South Korean president to visit U.S., South America
· UPIJuly 22 (Asia Today) -- South Korean President Lee Jae Myung will begin an 11-day trip to the United States and three South American countries Friday to expand cooperation in artificial intelligence, critical minerals and energy supply chains.
National Security Adviser Wi Sung-lac announced the itinerary Wednesday during a briefing at the presidential office.
Lee will visit San Francisco before traveling to Brazil, Chile and Argentina. He is scheduled to return to South Korea on Aug. 3 after stopping in Frankfurt, Germany.
The president will attend an AI summit in San Francisco on Friday, where he plans to discuss cooperation with global technology companies based in Silicon Valley.
Wi said the meeting would advance South Korea's strategy for AI and semiconductor development following the government's announcement of three major national projects.
Lee will attend a Silicon Valley venture investment summit Saturday and meet representatives of U.S. venture capital firms.
The presidential office said it hopes to connect the South Korean and U.S. venture investment ecosystems and expand opportunities for South Korean startups to attract international funding.
Lee will then begin a tour of three South American countries focused on trade, investment, critical minerals and energy security.
He will begin a state visit to Brazil on Sunday at the invitation of President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva. Lee and Lula will hold a summit Monday followed by a memorandum-signing ceremony, a joint news conference and a state luncheon.
Lee will travel to São Paulo on Tuesday for a luncheon with Korean residents and a South Korea-Brazil business roundtable.
Brazil holds major reserves of rare-earth elements needed for industries including semiconductor manufacturing.
Lee will make an official visit to Chile from Wednesday through Thursday and meet President José Antonio Kast, whose administration took office this year.
Chile is a major global source of lithium, a critical material used in electric vehicle batteries and energy storage systems.
Lee will then visit Argentina from Thursday through Saturday. It will be the first official visit to Argentina by a South Korean president in 22 years.
Argentina has some of the world's largest shale gas resources and is part of South America's "lithium triangle" with Chile and Bolivia.
Wi said the South American tour was intended to expand trade and investment with Brazil, Chile and Argentina while helping South Korean companies enter new markets.
Lee plans to discuss restarting negotiations on a trade agreement between South Korea and the South American trade bloc Mercosur during his meetings with the leaders of Brazil and Argentina.
Brazil and Argentina are leading members of the regional bloc. Argentina is led by President Javier Milei.
Lee will also discuss modernizing South Korea's free trade agreement with Chile, the first country to sign such an agreement with Seoul.
"We expect this to significantly increase trade with these countries and expand opportunities for our companies to enter South American markets," Wi said.
Wi said the trip would also broaden South Korea's diplomacy in the Global South and strengthen cooperation with major South American countries in international forums.
-- Reported by Asia Today; translated by UPI
© Asia Today. Unauthorized reproduction or redistribution prohibited.
Original Korean report: https://www.asiatoday.co.kr/kn/view.php?key=20260722010008163