President Lee Jae-myung speaks on the phone with U.S. President Donald Trump at the official presidential residence in Hannam-dong, Seoul, on June 6. / Provided by the Presidential Office

President Lee Jae-myung will make his debut on the international stage at the Group of Seven (G7) Summit, which opens in Canada on June 15 (local time). Just 11 days after officially assuming office following his election victory on the 4th, Lee’s participation symbolizes a reactivation of top-level diplomacy, which had been in a state of limbo for the past six months following the former President Yoon Suk-yeol’s martial law declaration on December 3 of last year.

The G7 Summit, often referred to as an “informal grouping of advanced democracies," offers Lee a prime opportunity to outline his foreign policy vision centered on “pragmatic diplomacy that prioritizes national interests.” Especially noteworthy is that the U.S. and Japan, two key players in Korea’s foreign and security policy, are G7 members, raising expectations for potential bilateral summits with both countries, as well as a possible three-way meeting between Korea, the U.S., and Japan.

On June 7, the presidential office announced that President Lee had accepted an invitation to attend the G7 Summit, which will be held in Alberta, Canada, from June 15 to 17. This marks Korea’s third participation in a G7 summit, following President Moon Jae-in’s attendance in 2021 at the invitation of the U.K., the then-chair country, and former President Yoon Suk-yeol’s attendance in Japan in 2023.

Although the G7 Summit is a multilateral gathering, much attention is focused on whether a summit between President Lee and U.S. President Donald Trump will take place. The two leaders held their first phone call on June 6, which lasted about 20 minutes, and a potential in-person meeting just ten days later would be unusually swift. If realized, it would save considerable time compared to the typical months-long preparation process for a new administration’s first U.S. visit, and allow the leaders to quickly address pressing issues such as tariffs. There is even speculation that the two leaders might have an informal encounter during the G7 meetings, followed by a one-on-one summit in the U.S., which is geographically close to Canada.

Key issues on the potential summit agenda will not be easy to navigate. The most urgent matter is the tariff negotiations. During their call last week, the two leaders agreed to work toward “a mutually satisfactory agreement as soon as possible,” but this remains a general commitment. The Trump administration previously announced plans to impose a 25 percent reciprocal tariff on Korean products, with implementation postponed until July 8.

There is also concern that Trump may bring up the issue of defense cost-sharing for U.S. forces stationed in Korea. With the U.S. having effectively waited through Korea’s six-month diplomatic vacuum, there are expectations that Washington may now ramp up pressure. Experts advise that Seoul must be well-prepared for the unpredictable and often unfiltered remarks Trump is known for. Without such preparation, what should be a diplomatic opportunity could quickly turn into a crisis.

Attention is also on whether a bilateral meeting with Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba, as well as a potential trilateral summit between Korea, the U.S., and Japan, will take place. If a summit between Korea and Japan is held, it would offer insight into how the Lee administration plans to shape the future of bilateral ties, which have gone through cycles of tension and reconciliation during the Moon and Yoon administrations.

In his inaugural speech on June 4, titled “Message to the People,” President Lee said that he would “strengthen cooperation between Korea, the U.S., and Japan based on a solid Korea–U.S. alliance, and approach relations with neighboring countries from the perspective of national interest and pragmatism.” On the same day, he told reporters that he hopes for a rational relationship where Japan takes responsibility by offering necessary apologies, and both countries work together on areas of mutual interest.”

Beyond the U.S. and Japan, meetings with the leaders of Canada, the host country, as well as the U.K., Germany, France, and Italy are also of interest. As his first appearance on the global stage, the summit offers Lee not only a chance to build rapport and friendship but also to share strategies on trade and tariff negotiations with the U.S., a pressing issue for all countries.