Lee to meet Trump for 1st summit on Aug. 25 in Washington, presidential office announces
Published: 12 Aug. 2025, 12:53
Updated: 13 Aug. 2025, 17:42
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- SARAH KIM
- [email protected]
![People watch the news announcing the date for Korean President Lee Jae Myung and U.S. President Donald Trump's first summit at Seoul Station in central Seoul on Aug. 12. [AP/YONHAP]](https://koreaseafood.online/data/photo/2025/08/13/d95fd2fa-fc2f-48e9-9e1b-3ed1844ea8c9.jpg)
People watch the news announcing the date for Korean President Lee Jae Myung and U.S. President Donald Trump's first summit at Seoul Station in central Seoul on Aug. 12. [AP/YONHAP]
Korean President Lee Jae Myung and U.S. President Donald Trump's first summit, expected to discuss security and economic cooperation, is set for Aug. 25 in Washington, the presidential office announced Tuesday, after the two countries announced a trade deal at the end of last month.
Lee is set to embark on a three-day official visit to the United States from Aug. 24 to 26 upon the invitation of Trump, presidential spokesperson Kang Yu-jung said in a press briefing at the Yongsan presidential office in Seoul.
"The two leaders will discuss ways to develop the Korea-U.S. alliance into a future-oriented, comprehensive strategic alliance in response to the changing international security and economic environment," Kang said. "They will also discuss ways to achieve peace and denuclearization on the Korean Peninsula while strengthening the robust Korea-U.S. combined defense posture."
The two leader’s first face-to-face talks will be an important occasion to fine tune follow-up measures to the tariff negotiations and set the tone for the development and “modernization” of the Korea-U.S. alliance going forward.
After months of negotiations, Seoul and Washington announced on July 30 that the two sides agreed to set tariffs on Korean exports to the United States at 15 percent, lower than the expected 25 percent, averting a worst-case scenario just ahead of his Aug. 1 deadline for a trade deal.
Trump further announced that Korea promised to invest $350 billion in the United States, though the actual amount and details are expected to become clearer through the two leaders' summit. Through this announcement, Trump said he expects to meet with Lee at the White House in around two weeks' time, prompting the two sides to iron out a more detailed schedule and agenda.
"Building on the recently concluded tariff negotiations, the two leaders are expected to discuss ways to further strengthen economic cooperation, including in manufacturing sectors like semiconductors, batteries and shipbuilding, as well as the economic security partnership in areas such as advanced technology and key minerals," Kang said.
She said there will be a more detailed explanation of the itinerary, which includes a working luncheon at the White House on Aug. 25, once it is finalized.
![Presidential spokesperson Kang Yu-jung announces that the first summit between Korean President Lee Jae Myung and U.S. President Donald Trump will be held on Aug. 25 in a press briefing at the Yongsan presidential office in central Seoul on Aug. 12. [JOINT PRESS CORPS]](https://koreaseafood.online/data/photo/2025/08/13/f7571af1-ce9e-46b8-9171-86a96ea69fc2.jpg)
Presidential spokesperson Kang Yu-jung announces that the first summit between Korean President Lee Jae Myung and U.S. President Donald Trump will be held on Aug. 25 in a press briefing at the Yongsan presidential office in central Seoul on Aug. 12. [JOINT PRESS CORPS]
Lee, who has pushed for a pragmatic diplomacy centered on national interests, will be tested on how he handles security and trade talks with the United States aimed at advancing the alliance and maintaining peace on the Korean Peninsula amid growing pressure to choose sides amid the growing U.S.-China competition.
A modernization of the alliance could include a wide range of issues including the size and role of the U.S. troops in Korea, a demand for an increase in South Korea's defense budget and the speedy transfer of wartime operational control, or Opcon.
Kang in the briefing said there is consideration of a Korean business delegation to the United States, but that they "are not yet at the stage of concrete discussions," indicating that an announcement will be made once preparations are completed.
When asked whether Lee could inspect a Korean company shipyard during the visit, Kang said, "It could be quite possible."
This comes amid reports that Lee is considering visiting the Hanwha Philly Shipyard in Pennsylvania during his visit.
During negotiations, Korea especially touted a $150 billion shipbuilding investment package, dubbing it the MASGA, or "Make America Shipbuilding Great Again" project, which Washington is said to have expressed keen interest in.
While the details have not been ironed out, the Korean government is expected to allocate another $200 billion to cooperation in sectors such as semiconductors, renewable batteries, shipbuilding and nuclear power plants. Korea also agreed to purchase some $100 billion worth of liquefied natural gas (LNG) and other energy products from the United States over the next four years under the tariff deal. In turn, Korea announced it will not have to further open its rice and beef markets under the latest agreement.
The summit would be an opportunity to fine tune the specifics of the somewhat ambiguous trade deal and exact amount of the investment fund amid subtle differences in the explanations from both sides.
Regarding a question on recent reports that Lee may visit Japan, Kang replied, "Nothing has been decided yet." She pointed that the two sides have been working on shuttle diplomacy, as discussed with Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba at the G7 summit.
![National Security Adviser Wi Sung-lac, right, poses for a photo with Rep. Richard McCormick and Rep. Beth Van Duyne in Seoul on Aug. 12. [PRESIDENTIAL OFFICE]](https://koreaseafood.online/data/photo/2025/08/13/a8d30aaf-f244-463f-be17-0749cdc7ede0.jpg)
National Security Adviser Wi Sung-lac, right, poses for a photo with Rep. Richard McCormick and Rep. Beth Van Duyne in Seoul on Aug. 12. [PRESIDENTIAL OFFICE]
National Security Adviser Wi Sung-lac later Tuesday met with U.S. lawmakers visiting Seoul and asked for their support in strengthening and developing the Korea-U.S. alliance under the vision of a "future-oriented comprehensive strategic alliance" amid the evolving security and economic environment, the presidential office said in a statement.
In the meeting with Rep. Richard McCormick, a Republican from Georgia, and Rep. Beth Van Duyne, a Republican from Texas, Wi noted that investments by Korean companies in strategic sectors such as semiconductors and electric vehicle batteries in their home states are contributing to revitalizing the local economy and creating jobs.
Wi emphasized the need for congressional support to ensure that such investments result in mutually beneficial outcomes for both countries. He added that he expects the upcoming summit would provide an opportunity for in-depth discussions on ways to further develop the already strong alliance.
The lawmakers, in turn, expressed their full support for the success of the summit and hopes to further strengthen Korea-U.S. economic cooperation, confirming bipartisan support for the alliance within the U.S. Congress.
Update, Aug. 10: Added details about Wi Sung-lac's meeting with U.S. lawmakers and details throughout story.
BY SARAH KIM [[email protected]]
with the Korea JoongAng Daily
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