Evian-les-bains: South Korean President Lee Jae Myung attended the Group of Seven (G7) summit in Evian-les-Bains, France, on Tuesday, where he had a brief encounter with U.S. President Donald Trump during a photo session. Emmanuel Macron, president of host France, welcomed Lee to the summit venue. The South Korean president responded, "I am so happy," after Macron asked, "How are you?"
According to Yonhap News Agency, during a subsequent group photo session for leaders of participating countries, Lee engaged with Trump for about 30 seconds, as shown in a livestream of the event. The two leaders were seen communicating eagerly through an interpreter. Presidential spokesperson Kang Yu-jung later stated in a briefing that Trump inquired about the latest developments in inter-Korean ties during their conversation. Lee urged Trump to spearhead a peaceful resolution of North Korean issues, similar to his efforts with the Middle East conflict, to which Trump expressed his intention to work toward such a resolution.
This year marks the second consecutive year that South Korea has been invited to the G7 summit as a partner country. The G7 consists of France, Germany, the U.S., Canada, Italy, Japan, and Britain. France has extended invitations to non-G7 nations, including Brazil, Egypt, India, and Kenya, to foster coordinated responses to global challenges, such as the conflicts in Ukraine and Iran, global financial instability, and risks associated with artificial intelligence (AI).
In his social media post on platform X ahead of the summit, Lee remarked, "Being invited to the G7 Summit for the second consecutive year is a deeply meaningful testament to the trust and expectations that the international community places in the Republic of Korea." He further expressed his intent to engage in in-depth discussions with G7 leaders and invited countries on defining global issues, including international partnerships, economic growth, and the future of emerging technologies.
Lee participated in the G7 summit's first expanded session, which aimed to address the decline in international development aid flows under the theme "forging new partnerships and rebuilding international solidarity." The South Korean president highlighted the challenges that many developing countries face in accessing AI technology and called for partnerships between donor and recipient countries to bridge these gaps, according to the South Korean presidential office. He emphasized the importance of sharing AI advancements to avoid widening economic disparities.
This year's G7 summit is anticipated to tackle various issues, including the Ukraine and Iran conflicts, global financial instability, and AI emergence. In his X post, Lee affirmed, "Building on the strength of the Republic of Korea made possible by our great people, I will firmly safeguard our national interests and faithfully fulfill our responsible role in contributing to global peace and prosperity."
Lee is scheduled to attend additional G7 summit sessions on Wednesday before concluding his 10-day Europe trip and heading home. On the summit's sidelines, Lee also conducted bilateral talks with German Chancellor Friedrich Merz and Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney to explore ways to strengthen bilateral ties. Meanwhile, the possibility of a formal meeting between Lee and Trump remains uncertain, with a presidential official indicating that while the door is open, no concrete progress has been made in arranging such a meeting.