SEOUL: South Korea is actively pursuing an early meeting between President Yoon Suk Yeol and U.S. President-elect Donald Trump, aiming for it to occur before Trump’s inauguration in January, as per a foreign ministry official’s statement on Thursday. The initiative follows a phone conversation between Yoon and Trump, during which Yoon extended his congratulations on Trump’s reelection, and both leaders agreed to meet in person soon.
According to Yonhap News Agency, a foreign ministry official, who preferred to remain anonymous, noted that plans are underway to coordinate the meeting with Washington. The official hinted at the potential for the meeting to occur even before Trump’s official swearing-in ceremony early next year. This approach mirrors a previous instance where former Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe met Trump shortly after his first presidential victory in 2016.
The official remarked on Trump’s history of meeting international leaders promptly, suggesting that Trump’s openness to an early mee
ting with Yoon is a positive indication. South Korea is therefore moving forward with preparations for such an engagement. One possibility under consideration is President Yoon’s visit to the U.S. either just before or after his scheduled trip to South America later this month. This trip will involve his participation in summits for the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) forum and the Group of 20 (G20).
Sources indicate that the South Korean government is seriously contemplating this option, with the APEC summit set for November 15-16 in Peru and the G20 summit planned for November 18-19 in Brazil. These international events present a strategic opportunity for President Yoon to meet with Trump as part of his official itinerary.