President Lee Tells State Guest Lula, "As a Former Child Laborer, Your Life Journey Is So Similar to Mine"

SNS message ahead of Korea-Brazil summit
"Brazil will flourish greatly through indomitable challenge and courage... I look forward to meeting you soon"

On the 23rd, President Lee Jaemyung told Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, who is on a state visit to Korea, that "the path you have taken in life and politics, always one step ahead, is so very similar to the journey of my own life."

Yonhap News Agency

That morning, in a post on X (formerly Twitter) written in both Portuguese and Korean, President Lee addressed President Lula, writing, "As someone who started out as a child laborer, you have proven with your whole being that democracy is the most useful tool for social and economic development."

He went on to say, "Although you briefly walked a thorny path along with the destruction of democracy, you have now risen robustly again together with the great people of Brazil and are now reviving Brazil itself."

President Lee said, "I have no doubt that, thanks to President Lula's integrity and intensity, and his indomitable spirit of challenge and courage, Brazil will flourish greatly," adding, "I support President Lula's life, struggle, and achievements, which will be remembered for a long time in the history of world democracy."

At President Lee's invitation, President Lula arrived in Korea on the 22nd for a three-day state visit lasting two nights and three days, through the 24th. The two leaders are scheduled to hold a summit meeting at Cheong Wa Dae on the 23rd, followed by a memorandum of understanding (MOU) signing ceremony and a state dinner.

At this summit, a wide range of issues are expected to be discussed, including the expansion of trade and investment; cooperation on climate and energy; science, technology and space; defense industry; agriculture; and supply chains. Given Brazil's significant presence in cooperation on critical minerals such as rare earths, related agenda items are also expected to be brought to the table.

This is the first state visit to Korea by President Lula in 21 years, since 2005. Starting with an official welcome ceremony in the morning, the two leaders will hold a commemorative photo session, a summit meeting, and an MOU signing ceremony, after which they will give a joint press statement. They will then attend a state dinner and take part in additional social engagements between the two leaders.