Overview
- President Lee Jae Myung hosted Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni at Cheong Wa Dae on Jan. 19 in the first Italian prime ministerial visit to South Korea in nearly two decades and the first by a European leader since Lee took office.
- The leaders agreed to expand collaboration in artificial intelligence, semiconductors, space and aviation, pledged complementary cooperation in the defense industry, and vowed to address global challenges together.
- Meloni urged joint work on critical‑mineral supply chains, transportation and infrastructure as new areas for partnership.
- Lee highlighted cultural and people‑to‑people exchanges, referenced K‑pop’s draw, and said he plans a reciprocal visit to Italy.
- Meloni paid respects at the Seoul National Cemetery and received an album honoring Italy’s Korean War medical mission, as officials noted Italy is South Korea’s fourth‑largest EU trading partner.