President Lee Jae-myung is scheduled to visit Nara, Japan for a two-day trip from January 13 to 14. During the APEC summit in Gyeongju last year, there was a suggestion to hold the next shuttle diplomacy in Nara, the hometown of Prime Minister Takaiichi. Subsequently, the Japanese side invited President Lee, leading to the upcoming visit.
With this visit, the two leaders will meet for the third time within three months of Prime Minister Takaiichi’s inauguration, following the APEC summit in Gyeongju last year and the G20 summit in South Africa. This signifies the continuation of shuttle diplomacy, where the leaders of South Korea and Japan visit each other frequently.
On January 13, President Lee will arrive in Nara in the afternoon and meet Prime Minister Takaiichi for a series of events including a one-on-one meeting, expanded talks, joint press announcement, personal conversation, and dinner. On the morning of January 14, the two leaders will have a friendship schedule to inspect Horyuji, a representative cultural heritage site. Afterward, President Lee will meet with Korean residents in the Kansai region, including Osaka, before returning to Korea.
The main achievements of this visit include strengthening the bond and trust between the leaders through shuttle diplomacy, enhancing practical cooperation between the two countries, promoting humanitarian cooperation on historical issues, and collaborating on regional and global issues, including the Korean Peninsula.