Politics · South Korea · 2 hrs ago
South Korea defends cultural events on Lee's overseas trips
South Korea's foreign ministry defended President Lee Jae Myung's overseas trips, saying cultural and social events should not overshadow the trips' full agendas and results.
Opposition lawmakers have criticized Lee's frequent travel and his wife Kim Hye Kyung's attendance; Lee has said the trips involve demanding preparation and official work.
The ministry said a drum performance with Japan's leader followed a summit and was prepared by Japan as a customary way to build trust.
Lee co-chaired a France-hosted summit on the future of film and video, which the ministry said reflected the international standing of South Korea's cultural industries.
Meetings with K-pop fans in Mexico were described as public diplomacy intended to strengthen understanding and goodwill between the two countries' people.
The ministry promised fuller explanations of talks and agreements, including how they are carried out and what results they produce.
South Korea’s foreign ministry defended cultural and social events during President Lee Jae-myung’s overseas trips, saying they should be assessed in their diplomatic context.
The ministry said focusing only on such events while ignoring the trips’ full schedules and substantive results was inappropriate.
It explained that a drum performance with Japan’s prime minister was arranged by Japan after a summit and reflected a customary effort to build trust.
The ministry said Lee’s role at a France-hosted film and video industry summit and meetings with K-pop fans in Mexico also had diplomatic significance.
The defense came amid opposition criticism of Lee’s frequent overseas trips and his wife’s participation in them.
- Who
- South Korea’s foreign ministry defended President Lee Jae-myung’s overseas trips. Opposition lawmakers had criticized the trips.
- What
- The ministry said cultural and social events during the trips should not be used to diminish their significance.
- When
- The ministry made the statement on November 1, 2026.
- Where
- The debate concerned Lee’s overseas trips, including visits to France, Mexico and Japan.
- Why
- The ministry said the events had diplomatic purposes and should be considered alongside the trips’ full schedules and results.
South Korea’s foreign ministry and President Lee
Opposition lawmakers
Assessment of overseas trips
South Korea’s foreign ministry and President Lee
The ministry said it was inappropriate to judge the trips by highlighting only social and cultural events while overlooking their full schedules and results. Lee said the trips involved intensive preparation and official work.
Opposition lawmakers
Opposition lawmakers criticized Lee’s frequent overseas trips and his wife’s participation in them, arguing that the trips were excessive.
Opposition lawmakers criticized Lee’s frequent overseas trips and his wife’s accompanying him.
Lee responded to criticism on X, describing the preparation and work involved in his overseas trips.
The foreign ministry distributed a statement explaining the diplomatic context of events during Lee’s trips.
The ministry said it would explain the main discussions, agreements, follow-up work and concrete results of summit diplomacy.
- Criticism
- Opposition lawmakers cited 14 trips to 23 countries
- France
- Lee co-chaired the Lumière Summit at the invitation of President Emmanuel Macron
- Japan
- A drum performance took place during a social event after a summit
- Mexico
- Lee met local K-pop fans and encouraged Korean artists
- Ministry statement
- Published November 1, 2026
1 source
What people are saying
It is not appropriate to devalue the meaning of overseas trips by highlighting only some social and cultural exchange scenes without considering the full schedule and substantive results of summit diplomacy.
Social activities between leaders are a common diplomatic practice to strengthen mutual trust and ties.
People see only what they know, so please understand.