President Lee to attend G7 summit in Canada on June. 16

President Lee Jae-myung speaks during an emergency meeting on security and the economy held at the presidential office in Yongsan, Seoul, on June. 13, following the Israeli-Iranian airstrikes. /Newsis

President Lee Jae-myung will depart for the Group of Seven (G7) summit on June. 16.

Wi Sung-lac, National Security Adviser, said during a briefing at the presidential office in Yongsan on June. 15 that President Lee and the first lady are scheduled to leave on Monday, June. 16, and arrive in Canada later that afternoon. His first official engagements will include bilateral meetings with key nations invited to the summit.

“This invitation from Canada to attend the G7 summit reflects the international community’s high expectations for the Republic of Korea—a resilient democracy and major economic power—under the new administration,” Wi said.

He described the summit as “the first major international stage to demonstrate that democracy has returned to Korea following a period of crisis triggered by the threat of martial law.” He added that it would signal “an end to the six-month suspension of summit diplomacy and mark the start of its full-scale resumption.”

Resuming high-level diplomacy with major countries, he said, will allow South Korea to pursue a pragmatic foreign policy to protect national interests amid shifting global dynamics in economics and security. “By holding talks with leaders from countries such as the United States and Japan, we hope to explore solutions to urgent trade and diplomatic challenges, including tariffs,” he said.

Wi reaffirmed that President Lee and the first lady will arrive in Calgary on June. 16. “The president plans to hold bilateral talks with several major leaders, including those participating in the G7. We are currently coordinating schedules with multiple countries,” he said.

The presidential office also confirmed that arrangements are underway for summit meetings between President Lee and U.S. President Donald Trump, as well as Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba, on the sidelines of the G7.

When asked whether the summit might include coordinated efforts to counter China, Wi responded, “The Republic of Korea shares fundamental values with the United States and other G7 countries. Our foreign policy is rooted in engaging with, aligning alongside, and consulting with these partners.” He added, “President Lee has consistently emphasized that our diplomatic approach is anchored in the South Korea–U.S. alliance, a free-market economy, and trilateral cooperation with the United States and Japan. At the same time, we are not seeking to worsen our relations with neighboring powers such as China and Russia. As the president has stated on numerous occasions, making adversaries does not serve our national interest.”

[Kim Tae-jun]

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