South Korea to Welcome Takaichi’s 19-20 Visit at Near-State Level

2026-05-17

South Korea’s presidential office announced on the 17th that it will welcome Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi with treatment equivalent to a state guest when she visits South Korea on the 19th and 20th. On the 19th, the two leaders will hold a summit in Andong in southeastern South Korea, the hometown of President Lee Jae-myung.

Welcome Events and Summit Schedule

South Korea will greet Takaichi with an honor guard and a military band. A joint press conference is planned after the talks, followed by a dinner, a visit to the UNESCO World Heritage site Hahoe Village, which preserves traditional houses, and a music performance.

Four Months Since Their Last Meeting

The meeting will be the first between the two leaders in four months, since their talks in January in Nara, Takaichi’s hometown. South Korea’s presidential office said it sees the visit as an opportunity to further deepen the strong trust and friendship between the two leaders.

Since Lee took office as president in June 2025, this will be the sixth Japan-South Korea summit. Lee has stressed that it is important to maintain frequent communication through “shuttle diplomacy,” in which leaders travel back and forth to meet each other. South Korea has also described former Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba’s visit to Busan in September 2025 as a “working visit, but with treatment equivalent to a state guest.”

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