Yoon will visit Peru and Brazil from the 14th to the 21st to attend the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) and Group of Twenty (G20) summits.
This upcoming tour promises a markedly different tone than prior trips. South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol navigates a new international landscape shaped by Donald Trump’s recent electoral victory. Adding to the distinct atmosphere, First Lady Kim Keon Hee will not be accompanying Yoon, reportedly due to political considerations at home.
The presidential office has framed this trip as a strategic move to expand South Korea’s diplomatic reach into Latin America, reinforcing the nation’s position as a global pivotal state. This initiative follows recent engagements with African countries and ASEAN members as South Korea seeks to forge stronger ties with high-potential growth markets in Latin America.
In a previous briefing, National Security Office First Deputy Director Kim Tae Hyo explained, “This tour will allow us to demonstrate our responsible diplomacy as a global pivotal state on the multilateral diplomatic stage and strengthen international solidarity for preserving a rules-based international order. This also marks an expansion of our diplomatic horizon and practical cooperation into Latin America.”
During his tour, Yoon is expected to meet with various heads of state, reiterating his condemnation of North Korea-Russia relations as highlighted in his previous Southeast Asia tour. He will seek cooperation on this issue.
Deputy Director Kim added, “President Yoon will underscore at the APEC and G20 summits that a rules-based international order is essential for a sustainable future of the global community and emphasize the need for international solidarity in response to Russia-North Korea military cooperation.”
One of the most anticipated aspects of this diplomatic mission is the potential meeting with Trump. The presidential office has confirmed ongoing efforts to arrange such a meeting, though details remain undisclosed.
A senior official from the Presidential Office noted, “It is true that we are in close communication with Trump’s team regarding a potential meeting.”
During the trip, Yoon is also expected to hold bilateral summits with Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba and Chinese President Xi Jinping.
Earlier, Japanese media reported that a Korea-Japan summit is being coordinated on the sidelines of APEC. The Presidential Office also confirmed active efforts to arrange this meeting.
Furthermore, a Korea-China summit is considered highly likely. A trilateral summit between South Korea, the United States, and Japan, as mentioned in the first anniversary joint statement of the Camp David meeting this past August, is also being pursued during these multilateral meetings.