President Lee Jae-myung embarks on a 7-night 11-day diplomatic tour beginning on the 24th, visiting the United States, Brazil, Chile, Argentina, and Germany. This marks his longest overseas schedule since taking office, focused on strengthening artificial intelligence cooperation with global tech leaders in San Francisco and securing critical mineral supply chain partnerships across South America. The tour reflects a two-track economic diplomacy strategy: engaging with the global AI ecosystem in the US while expanding resource cooperation with key South American nations rich in lithium, rare earths, and copper. The Blue House frames the itinerary as positioning South Korea as an indispensable partner in both advanced technology and economic security amid accelerating US-China strategic competition and supply chain restructuring. Presidential Chief of Staff for Policy Kim Yong-beom stated that President Lee will highlight South Korea's irreplaceable position in the global AI ecosystem and demonstrate AI cooperation intentions between South Korea and global big tech firms to the international community.
President Lee Meets NVIDIA, OpenAI, Anthropic, Broadcom CEOs in San Francisco on the 24th
San Francisco serves as the first stop of the tour. On the 24th (local time), President Lee will hold consecutive meetings with chief executive officers of NVIDIA, OpenAI, Anthropic, and Broadcom—companies leading the global AI industry—to discuss new investment opportunities and technology cooperation plans. Following these meetings, the San Francisco AI Summit will take place, where President Lee will announce the "San Francisco AI Declaration" outlining cooperation directions between South Korea's and the United States' AI industries. At this event, President Lee will directly present AI industry development strategies including the government's three mega-projects and a vision for global AI cooperation. The Blue House expects these meetings to result in concrete new investments and strategic partnerships between global big tech firms and domestic companies.
South America Tour Targets Critical Mineral Partnerships with Brazil, Chile, Argentina
After completing AI diplomacy in San Francisco, President Lee will immediately proceed to South America. The government identifies the core objective of the South America tour as establishing economic security partnerships. Brazil, Chile, and Argentina possess abundant reserves of critical minerals essential for advanced industries—including lithium, rare earths, and copper—as well as energy resources. National Security Office Director Wi Sung-lac stated that economic security partnerships with these three major resource-rich South American nations can be anticipated, expanding cooperation in critical minerals, food, and energy while broadening the horizons of Korean diplomacy toward the Global South. The Blue House assesses these partnerships as strategically important for ensuring stable raw material access for Korean companies and market diversification amid accelerating US-China strategic competition and supply chain restructuring.
Brazil State Visit Scheduled for 26th-29th at President Lula's Invitation
From the 26th to the 29th, President Lee will make a state visit to Brazil at the invitation of President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva. The itinerary includes a summit meeting in the capital Brasília and participation in a Korea-Brazil Business Roundtable in São Paulo, attended by major business leaders from both countries, to discuss expanding investment and industrial cooperation. The Blue House has designated the resumption of trade agreement negotiations with Mercosur (Southern Common Market) as a key agenda item for Brazil.
Chile and Argentina Summits Address FTA Modernization and Energy Cooperation on 30th-31st
On the 30th in Santiago, Chile, President Lee will hold a summit with President José Antonio Kast to discuss free trade agreement modernization and critical mineral cooperation plans. On the 31st in Buenos Aires, Argentina, President Lee is scheduled to meet with President Javier Milei to consult on economic security issues including expanded cooperation in energy, minerals, and supply chains. For Chile, the Blue House has set FTA modernization and future industry cooperation as primary agenda items. For Argentina, the focus remains on energy and mineral cooperation expansion.
Germany Stopover Concludes Tour Before Return on the 3rd of Next Month
On the return journey, President Lee will stop in Frankfurt, Germany on the 2nd of next month for a meeting with local Korean residents before returning home on the 3rd. The tour is significant as economic diplomacy that strengthens AI cooperation with the United States in advanced technology fields while reinforcing strategic linkages with South America in resources and supply chain areas.
FAQ
Q: What is the main purpose of President Lee Jae-myung's visit to San Francisco on the 24th?
A: President Lee will meet with CEOs of NVIDIA, OpenAI, Anthropic, and Broadcom on the 24th (local time) to discuss new investment opportunities and technology cooperation plans. He will also participate in the San Francisco AI Summit to announce the "San Francisco AI Declaration" and present the government's AI industry development strategies and global AI cooperation vision.
Q: Why is President Lee visiting Brazil, Chile, and Argentina during this tour?
A: The three South American countries possess abundant reserves of critical minerals such as lithium, rare earths, and copper, as well as energy resources. The government aims to establish economic security partnerships with these nations to ensure stable raw material access for Korean companies and expand market diversification amid US-China strategic competition and supply chain restructuring.
Q: What are the scheduled dates for President Lee's meetings in South America?
A: President Lee will make a state visit to Brazil from the 26th to the 29th at President Lula's invitation, hold a summit with Chile's President Kast on the 30th in Santiago, and meet with Argentina's President Milei on the 31st in Buenos Aires. He will stop in Frankfurt, Germany on the 2nd of next month before returning on the 3rd.
