Singapore: President Lee Jae Myung departed for Singapore on Sunday to initiate a two-nation Southeast Asia tour that includes a state visit to the Philippines. The tour aims to enhance cooperation with these pivotal Southeast Asian nations.

According to Yonhap News Agency, President Lee's agenda includes a three-day state visit to Singapore, where he will engage in summit talks with Prime Minister Lawrence Wong. This marks their second summit in four months, following Wong's visit to South Korea for the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit. The discussions are set to focus on expanding trade, investment, and infrastructure, as well as broadening collaboration in emerging sectors like artificial intelligence (AI) and nuclear energy, as stated by presidential spokesperson Kang Yu-jung.

In addition to the summit with Prime Minister Wong, President Lee is scheduled to meet Singaporean President Tharman Shanmugaratnam, the ceremonial head of state. He will also attend AI Connect, a business forum designed to bring together entrepreneurs and business leaders from both countries to explore opportunities in the AI sector.

Following his visit to Singapore, President Lee will travel to Manila on Tuesday for a two-day state visit. He is expected to hold a summit with Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. on the same day. This will be their second meeting, following their initial encounter during the APEC summit in late October. The agenda includes exploring ways to deepen cooperation in defense, infrastructure, and trade, along with promising sectors such as nuclear power, shipbuilding, critical minerals, and AI.

Cheong Wa Dae has expressed optimism that President Lee's trip will enhance coordination with key ASEAN members on the international stage and help forge stronger ties with the regional bloc. This visit marks President Lee's second trip to Southeast Asia, following his attendance at the ASEAN summit in Malaysia in October, where he unveiled Seoul's "CSP" vision. The vision outlines plans for South Korea to act as a "contributor" to the aspirations of ASEAN youth, a "springboard" for growth and innovation, and a "partner" for peace and stability.