President Lee Jae Myung is concluding his three-night, five-day visit to the U.S. for the United Nations (UN) General Assembly without meeting President Donald Trump, who is embroiled in ongoing tariff negotiations.
Analysts suggest that the presidential office is deliberately keeping its distance, given Trump’s focus on the Russia-Ukraine conflict and Middle Eastern issues. They also note that an ill-timed meeting could potentially jeopardize the negotiations.
Rather than seeking a direct endorsement from Trump, Lee aims to influence American public opinion while avoiding the pressures of a fruitless meeting.
According to reports from the presidential office and foreign media on Wednesday, Lee attended a dinner hosted by Trump for world leaders visiting New York for the UN General Assembly.
The White House press pool reported that Trump’s dinner brought together leaders and their spouses from 145 countries, creating a lively atmosphere, with some attendees reportedly waiting for hours for a photo opportunity with Trump.
Instead of chasing a photo op with Trump, Lee opted for a more strategic approach.
At the same time, Lee hosted a dinner with influential American figures, including think tank leaders and journalists, to discuss issues on the Korean Peninsula and broader international affairs. Notable attendees included Thomas Byrne, President of the Korea Society; Kang Kyung-wha, President of the Asia Society; Suzanne Elliott, Chair of the U.S. Foreign Policy Council; Ian Bremmer, President of Eurasia Group; and Daniel Kurtz-Phelan, Editor of Foreign Affairs.
During the dinner, Lee focused on explaining the current status of tariff and security negotiations, as well as why South Korea cannot unconditionally accept U.S. demands, with the aim of fostering favorable public sentiment in America. He also expressed hope for a reasonable solution between the two nations.
Some analysts believe that Lee’s decision was driven by concerns over the optics of a meeting that might bear no tangible results, especially amidst stalled tariff negotiations. They suggest that the presidential office prefers to avoid a scenario where Trump’s potential resistance could negatively impact the negotiations.
A source from the ruling party stated that while a top-down approach might be feasible once negotiations progress, a meeting between the leaders is pointless if it fails to yield concrete results.
The APEC summit: A Crucial Opportunity for U.S.-South Korea Relations… National Interest Remains Paramount
With relations with Trump cooling, the APEC summit scheduled for late October in Gyeongju is expected to serve as a pivotal moment for tariff negotiations.
The presidential office and government plan to intensify their negotiations with the U.S. on the principles of prioritizing national interest and mutual benefit. They aim to bridge differences and reach an agreement during the APEC summit, where the leaders of South Korea and the U.S. are anticipated to meet.
Kim Yong-beom, head of the presidential office’s policy planning division, state that the Gyeongju APEC summit represents a critical juncture, and naturally, we expect meetings between the two leaders. Further noting that the negotiation team views such international events as significant opportunities and is strategizing accordingly.
He emphasized that while it hasn’t set a specific deadline, they are negotiating on the principle that any agreement must be commercially viable, acceptable to the nation, aligned with national interests, and mutually beneficial for both South Korea and the U.S.