South Korean President Lee Jae Myung to Hold Jan 13‑14 Summit in Nara
Updated (3 articles)
Lee’s Nara Visit Scheduled for Jan 13‑14 President Lee Jae Myung will travel to Japan’s Nara prefecture for a two‑day bilateral summit with Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi on January 13 and 14, departing on Tuesday [1][3]. The talks will be held in Nara, Takaichi’s hometown, underscoring the venue’s symbolic importance [2][3]. Cheong Wa Dae framed the trip as a continuation of “shuttle diplomacy” aimed at building future‑oriented momentum [1].
Summit Aims to Deepen Bilateral Ties and Address Broad Issues Both leaders intend to discuss regional and global challenges, as well as economic, societal and cultural cooperation [1]. The agenda is described as “future‑oriented,” seeking to strengthen overall bilateral relations while not ignoring historical sensitivities [1]. No detailed program was released beyond these thematic areas [3].
Visit Continues Pattern of Shuttle Diplomacy and Prior Encounters Lee and Takaichi previously met on the sidelines of the Oct. 30 APEC forum in Gyeongju and again at the G20 summit in Johannesburg in November [1][2]. An August visit to Tokyo, where Lee spoke with former Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba, also set the stage for the current talks [1]. These repeated high‑level exchanges illustrate a sustained effort to maintain dialogue despite lingering wartime history issues [1].
Cultural Outreach Includes Friendship Event and Korean Community Meeting During the Nara visit, Lee will attend a friendship ceremony with Takaichi on Wednesday and hold a separate meeting with ethnic Koreans residing in Japan before returning home the same day [1]. This component highlights a soft‑power dimension aimed at people‑to‑people ties alongside official negotiations [1].
Sources (3 articles)
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[1]
Yonhap Lee to visit Nara for summit with Takaichi next Tuesday: Announces Lee’s departure Tuesday, two‑day summit Jan 13‑14 in Nara, agenda covering regional, global, economic, societal, cultural issues, and includes a friendship event and meeting with Koreans in Japan .
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[2]
Yonhap Lee to visit Nara for summit talks with Takaichi next week: Emphasizes early‑next‑week travel, two‑day talks in Takaichi’s hometown, and references prior meetings at APEC and G20, underscoring venue significance .
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[3]
Yonhap Lee to visit Nara for Jan 13-14 summit with Takaichi, Cheong Wa Dae says: Confirms dates Jan 13‑14 and location Nara, providing minimal detail beyond the high‑level nature of the encounter .
Timeline
Aug 2025 – President Lee Jae Myung travels to Tokyo and holds talks with former Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba, laying groundwork for continued dialogue and signaling the start of a shuttle‑diplomacy cycle that will later involve Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi [1].
Oct 30 2025 – Lee and Takaichi meet on the sidelines of the APEC forum in Gyeongju, South Korea, where they begin shaping a bilateral agenda that later expands to regional and global issues [1][2].
Nov 2025 – The two leaders briefly reconnect at the G20 leaders’ summit in Johannesburg, reinforcing personal rapport and underscoring the continuity of their diplomatic engagement [1][2].
Jan 9 2026 – Cheong Wa Dae announces that Lee will travel to Nara, Japan, on Tuesday for a two‑day summit with Prime Minister Takaichi on Jan 13‑14. The talks will cover regional and global matters, the economy, society and culture, and will feature a “friendship event” and a meeting with ethnic Koreans in Japan. Lee says he aims to build a future‑oriented relationship with Japan “without overlooking wartime history issues from the colonial era” [1][2][3].
Jan 13‑14 2026 – Lee and Takaichi convene in Nara, Takaichi’s hometown, for the scheduled bilateral summit, marking the centerpiece of their shuttle‑diplomacy effort and a concrete step toward deepening South Korea‑Japan ties [3].