President Lee: "Difficult to Say South Korea-China Relations Fully Normalized... Must Find Path to Cooperation" [Gyeongju APEC]

President Lee Jaemyung Holds APEC Press Conference on the 1st
"Korean Peninsula Stability Aligns with China's Interests, Expecting a Significant Role"

President Lee Jae-myung is smiling broadly at the press conference for the 2025 Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Summit held on the 1st at Gyeongju HICO (HICO). Photo by Yonhap News

President Lee Jaemyung stated on the 1st that "it is difficult to say that relations between South Korea and China have been fully normalized or restored in a substantive sense."

At a press conference held at the Gyeongju Media Center in his capacity as chair of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC), President Lee made this remark in response to a question regarding the outlook for South Korea-China relations.

President Lee explained, "South Korea and China must go beyond a simple restoration and find a path to mutually beneficial cooperation once again," adding, "It is essential to achieve a substantive recovery of relations and to strengthen practical cooperation." He further stated, "I intend to focus discussions on these points."

He went on to say, "The most important area is undoubtedly the economic sector. While South Korea and China compete in various fields, they are also partners in cooperation. The two countries are geographically close and maintain a deep economic interdependence and cooperative relationship."

He added, "Going forward, even if there are minor external obstacles, we will strive to overcome them and pursue greater benefits and change. We aim to create and expand opportunities for cooperation and communication, not only in the areas of the economy and private exchanges, but also in contributing to peace and stability in Northeast Asia."

He emphasized, "The stability of the Korean Peninsula is essential for the stability of Northeast Asia. This aligns with China's interests. We have high expectations for China's significant role."