Bangkok:Finance Minister Lee Hyoung-il has departed for Bangkok to attend the 2026 Annual Meetings of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and the World Bank Group, as well as a G20 finance ministerial gathering.

According to Yonhap News Agency, Lee's trip marks his first participation in such international assemblies since assuming office last month. During his visit, he will engage in various multilateral meetings to address current global economic issues.

Lee is scheduled to participate in the G20 Finance Ministers and Central Bank Governors Meeting, where key topics will be discussed ahead of the G20 summit in December. He will also attend a meeting of Group of Seven (G7) finance ministers upon their invitation, showcasing South Korea's expanding role on the global stage.

The finance ministry highlighted that Lee aims to strengthen Seoul's connections with the financial authorities of the seven major nations. Additionally, he will attend the International Monetary and Financial Committee (IMFC) meeting to deliberate on addressing significant economic challenges.

On the sidelines, Lee plans to hold bilateral meetings with leaders from international organizations such as the IMF, the Asian Development Bank, the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development, and the Central American Bank for Economic Integration. He will also update major credit rating agencies, including Moody's, Fitch, and S&P Global Ratings, on South Korea's economic status.

Furthermore, Lee is expected to have bilateral meetings with counterparts from Japan, Britain, Germany, Australia, and Saudi Arabia. In a related development, he recently conducted his first video conference with U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent, who will not be attending the Bangkok event. Bessent congratulated Lee on his new role and emphasized the importance of U.S.-South Korea cooperation in economic and financial matters.