(News Focus) Lee broadens diplomatic outreach to Europe in 1st trip to region

EVIAN-LES-BAINS, France, June 17 (Yonhap) -- President Lee Jae Myung took a major step in broadening South Korea's diplomatic outreach to Europe, as the country seeks to diversify its diplomatic profile and align with major powers in addressing protectionism and other global challenges, officials said Wednesday.

Lee wrapped up his 10-day trip to Europe aimed at widening South Korea's partnership with European nations, as well as the European Union (EU), as the international community faces shifting trade and security environments stemming from the war in the Middle East and growing protectionist trade policies.

It marked the South Korean president's first visit to the region since taking office in June last year, which was marked chiefly by the forging of partnerships with the EU and its member states.

South Korean President Lee Jae Myung (L) and Italian President Sergio Mattarella shake hands during their joint press announcement at Quirinal Palace in Rome on June 11, 2026. (Yonhap)

President Lee Jae Myung (C) poses for a photo with Ursula von der Leyen (R), president of the European Commission, and Antonio Costa, president of the European Council, during their summit in Brussels on June 10, 2026. (Yonhap)

During the first stop of the trip in Brussels, Lee held a summit with Belgian Prime Minister Bart De Wever last Wednesday, paving the way for companies from both countries to invest in each other's battery, energy and other strategic markets, and to use each other as footholds to expand into their respective regional markets.

The same day, Lee met with Ursula von der Leyen, president of the European Commission, and Antonio Luis Santos da Costa, president of the European Council, signing an agreement on launching negotiations for a bilateral information security pact, which would facilitate security and defense cooperation between the two sides.

On the second leg of his visit in Italy, Lee held summit talks with Italian President Sergio Mattarella, agreeing to elevate their countries' bilateral ties to a special strategic partnership, marking the second Group of Seven (G7) member state with which South Korea has established such a partnership, following France.

Seoul and Rome also agreed to explore ways to expand cooperation in the semiconductor, artificial intelligence (AI) and other strategic sectors, also pledging efforts to ensure the agreement would generate tangible outcomes.

In France, Lee attended the G7 summit in Evian-les-Bains as the head of an invited country for the second consecutive year.

During the summit, Lee joined the most