Lee Heads to UN General Assembly Before Mexico State Visit

President Lee Jae Myung was set to leave South Korea on Monday for a two-country diplomatic trip that will take him first to the United Nations General Assembly in New York and then to Mexico for a state visit.

The journey gives Lee a prominent multilateral platform to present Seoul’s approach to global cooperation and peace on the Korean Peninsula. During his address to the General Assembly, he plans to outline proposals for reforming the United Nations so that it can respond more effectively to international challenges. He is also expected to explain how South Korea intends to contribute to those efforts.

National Security Adviser Wi Sung-lac said Lee will use the speech to set out his administration’s vision for peaceful coexistence on the Korean Peninsula. The message comes as regional security remains under pressure and Seoul continues to balance deterrence, diplomacy and coordination with international partners.

Lee is also expected to seek contact with US President Donald Trump in various settings during the UN High-Level Week. The planned outreach reflects the importance of maintaining close communication between Seoul and Washington while leaders from around the world gather in New York.

The president’s schedule is expected to include contacts with the leaders of Australia, the United States and other major countries. According to Wi, those engagements are intended to sustain high-level exchanges, discuss cooperation and expand South Korea’s national interests. The meetings will give Lee opportunities to address both security questions and broader diplomatic partnerships on the sidelines of the global gathering.

After completing the US portion of his trip, Lee will travel to Mexico on Wednesday at the invitation of Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum. The two presidents are scheduled to hold summit talks the following day, followed by a luncheon and a joint press announcement.

Economic cooperation will be a central part of the Mexico visit. Seoul is seeking stronger ties with Mexico in trade, investment and supply chains, areas that have become increasingly important as governments and businesses respond to changing global production networks. The summit is expected to provide a framework for discussing how the two countries can deepen practical cooperation in those fields.

Lee is scheduled to depart Mexico on Saturday and return to South Korea the following day. The trip combines an appeal for stronger multilateral problem-solving at the United Nations with bilateral diplomacy aimed at widening South Korea’s economic and strategic relationships.