South Korean President Lee Jae-myung and Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni held a summit in Seoul on Monday, January 19th, where they agreed to strengthen cooperation in strategic industries such as artificial intelligence (AI), semiconductors, aerospace, and key minerals to build a more resilient and reliable supply chain.
This marked the first state visit by an Italian leader to South Korea in the past 19 years, signaling a move towards a closer strategic partnership between the two countries. It was also the first visit by a European leader to South Korea since Lee Jae-myung took office.
In a joint statement following the summit, the leaders emphasized the importance of enhancing cooperation in key areas such as AI, aerospace, semiconductors, and critical raw materials, as well as promoting partnerships between public institutions and private companies.
In response to global supply chain disruptions, both sides agreed to strengthen efforts to develop a “resilient and reliable critical mineral supply chain.”
To materialize their cooperation, the two leaders signed three memorandums of understanding (MOUs) during the summit, covering cooperation in the private sector of the semiconductor industry, civil defense work in the field of natural disasters, and the protection of cultural heritage and historical sites.
Meloni pointed out the need for the two countries to further seek opportunities for cooperation in new areas such as transportation and infrastructure.
Lee Jae-myung highly praised the complementarity of bilateral relations, stating at the beginning of the summit to Meloni, “By combining Italy’s traditional strengths as a scientific powerhouse with the core DNA of South Korea as a technological leader, the two countries can create significant synergies.”
He added, “It seems like there is no limit to the potential of the relationship between the two countries.”
On the geopolitical front, the leaders reiterated their commitment to “complete denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula and lasting peace and stability.”
Furthermore, they agreed to closely coordinate on multilateral platforms like the G20, with Italy also assisting in strengthening the partnership between South Korea and the G7.
The two countries also plan to deepen sports and cultural exchanges during the 2026 Milan-Cortina Winter Olympics.
During her visit, Meloni showed a strong interest in Korean culture and mentioned that her daughter is a supporter of Korean pop music (K-pop).
In remembrance of the historical friendship between the two countries, she visited the National Seoul National Cemetery on Sunday and received a photo album from the South Korean government documenting the humanitarian aid activities carried out by Italian medical personnel in Korea during the Korean War.
Italy is currently South Korea’s fourth-largest trading partner within the European Union. Following the conclusion of Meloni’s three-day visit, President Lee Jae-myung is also planning to visit Italy in the near future.
Meloni’s Asian tour included visits to three countries, with South Korea being the final stop. Prior to that, she had visited Oman and Japan, strengthening regional security and economic connections and cooperation.