President Lee Jae Myung boarded a flight to New York on Monday afternoon, kicking off a trip to the United States and Mexico centered on the UN General Assembly.
Lee departed from Seongnam Airport for a five-night, seven-day overseas schedule. Among those who saw him off were Cheong Wa Dae Chief of Staff Kang Hoon-sik, who announced his resignation that day, Senior Presidential Secretary for Political Affairs Hong Ik-pyo, Democratic Party of Korea leader Kim Min-seok, floor leader Han Byung-do and Minister of Interior and Safety Yun Ho-jung.
Lee will engage in multilateral diplomacy on the sidelines of the General Assembly and hold a bilateral summit with Mexico during a state visit to the country.
Also drawing attention is the possibility of a meeting with US President Donald Trump. Discussions are expected to cover sensitive issues including negotiations over South Korean investment in the United States and stabilization of the Strait of Hormuz.
National Security Director Wi Sung-lac said Lee "has set out on an overseas trip scheduled from Sept. 21 through Sept. 27, during which he will attend the high-level segment of the UN General Assembly in New York and make a state visit to Mexico before returning home."
Lee will first travel to New York, where he is scheduled to deliver a keynote address at the high-level segment of the General Assembly on Tuesday (local time).
Through the address, Lee plans to outline the direction of UN reform needed to tackle global challenges and South Korea's role in contributing to it, while also presenting a blueprint for peaceful coexistence on the Korean Peninsula.
Above all, attention is focused on whether Lee will meet with Trump on the sidelines of the General Assembly. Wi said "separate meetings in various formats with key leaders, including those of the United States and Australia, are planned."
With a major US investment announcement expected imminently and Washington pressing Seoul for a "contribution" related to the Strait of Hormuz, any meeting between the two leaders would likely center on trade, investment and security issues.
Lee will also attend an investor relations forum in New York under the banner "Korea Investment Summit 2026," where the government plans to brief global investors on South Korea's economic achievements over the past year and the key political and economic policies it intends to pursue going forward.
sang@heraldcorp.com
