President Lee Returns After Japan Visit... To Meet UAE Executive Affairs Chairman on the 15th

Discussing Follow-up Measures with Aides after the Summit
Addressing Key Issues Including "K-Defense Industry Sales" and "Luncheon with Political Party Leaders"

President Lee Jaemyung returned home on January 14 after completing a two-day, one-night summit with Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi in Nara Prefecture, Japan. Having attended back-to-back summits with China and Japan, President Lee plans to share the outcomes of his visit to Japan with his aides at the Blue House and address current issues, including a meeting with Khaldoon Khalifa Al Mubarak, Chairman of the Abu Dhabi Executive Affairs Authority.

Yonhap News Agency

On this day, President Lee concluded a series of meetings in Nara Prefecture, the hometown of Prime Minister Takaichi, including a small-group meeting, an expanded summit, a friendly conversation, and a dinner, before arriving at Seoul Airport.

The two leaders produced more concrete and advanced outcomes through this summit, agreeing to initiate working-level consultations in various fields such as artificial intelligence (AI) and intellectual property (IP), and to jointly respond to transnational crimes such as scams. They also reaffirmed their shared understanding of the need for the complete denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula.

Sensitive issues were also discussed. President Lee emphasized to Prime Minister Takaichi the importance of communication and cooperation among Korea, China, and Japan for stability in Northeast Asia. However, Prime Minister Takaichi did not make any direct reference to China-Japan relations in the joint press statement.

Other agenda items included import restrictions on Japanese seafood and Korea’s bid to join the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP). Korea reaffirmed its existing position to pursue CPTPP membership, while the Japanese side provided explanations regarding the safety of seafood products.

The two countries also took steps toward resolving historical issues, starting with the “Josei Coal Mine.” Korea and Japan agreed to cooperate on DNA analysis of remains from the Josei Coal Mine. President Lee described this as “a small but meaningful step forward.”

The Japanese side’s extraordinary hospitality and surprise events during the summit also drew attention. Contrary to the original plan, Prime Minister Takaichi personally greeted President Lee in front of his accommodation upon arrival in Japan. President Lee expressed his gratitude, saying he “did not know how to respond.” After the summit, the two leaders, both dressed in blue, surprised everyone by performing as drummers, playing “Golden” by K-Pop Demon Hunters and “Dynamite” by BTS during a friendly gathering.

On the final day of the visit, the two leaders toured Horyu-ji as part of their friendship itinerary. Known as Beomnyulsa in Korea, Horyu-ji is Japan’s first UNESCO World Heritage site. The leaders viewed the temple’s main hall (Kondo), Japan’s oldest wooden pagoda-the five-story pagoda-and the Baekje Kannon statue, a symbol of cultural exchange between the two countries.

As a special arrangement, the Japanese side opened the temple’s storage, normally off-limits to the public, to show the original Kondo murals, which were damaged by fire and are strictly preserved and managed. Wi Seong-rak, Director of National Security, described this as “the highest level of hospitality Japan could offer for our President’s first visit to Nara.”

Yonhap News Agency

After completing consecutive summits with China and Japan, President Lee will resume “K-Defense Industry Sales” diplomacy on January 15. At the Blue House main building, he will meet with Khaldoon Khalifa Al Mubarak, Chairman of the Abu Dhabi Executive Affairs Authority of the United Arab Emirates (UAE), who serves as the special envoy overseeing Korea-UAE cooperation. On January 16, President Lee will invite the leadership of each political party to the Blue House for a luncheon meeting.