[2025 Audit] Ambassador Lee Hyuk to Japan: "It Is Almost Certain That Takaichi Will Be Elected Prime Minister" (Comprehensive)

On October 18, Lee Hyuk, the South Korean Ambassador to Japan, commented on the likelihood of Sanae Takaichi, the new president of the Liberal Democratic Party, being elected as the next Prime Minister to succeed Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba. He stated, "It is almost certain that she will be elected Prime Minister."

Ambassador Lee made this remark in response to a question about the likelihood of President Takaichi becoming Prime Minister during a National Assembly Foreign Affairs and Unification Committee audit held at the South Korean Embassy in Tokyo on the same day.

President Takaichi faced a precarious situation regarding her election as Prime Minister after the coalition partner Komeito Party announced its withdrawal from the coalition government on October 10. However, as policy consultations began between the Liberal Democratic Party and the Japan Innovation Party, the second-largest opposition party, to form a new coalition, her appointment as Prime Minister is once again considered highly likely. After their policy talks the previous day, both parties stated that "significant progress has been made."

Regarding bilateral relations, Ambassador Lee said, "Based on the currently positive diplomatic relations, I believe that cooperation and exchanges should take place in many areas that benefit the national interests of both countries," adding, "Strengthening security and defense cooperation among South Korea, the United States, and Japan seems to have become the trend of the times."

In response to criticism that Japanese war crime companies have not participated in the third-party compensation solution promoted by the Yoon Suk-yeol administration to resolve the issue of forced labor victims, Ambassador Lee stated, "We are seeking various ways to encourage voluntary donations."

Regarding the schedule for the memorial ceremony at the Sado Mine, which the South Korean government will host this year, Ambassador Lee said, "We are considering the end of November," and compared to last year's ceremony held on November 24, he added, "It will likely be around that time."

When Song Eon-seok, a lawmaker from the People Power Party, proposed inviting Emperor Emeritus Akihito, the father of Emperor Naruhito, to visit South Korea, Ambassador Lee responded, "We must approach this with great caution and consideration. I think it would be good for the Emperor to visit South Korea at some point, but I cannot say it will happen during my term."