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Lee to send special envoy to congratulate Chilean president on inauguration

Published: 09 Mar. 2026, 18:07 Updated: 09 Mar. 2026, 18:26

Rep. Chung Il-young of the ruling Democratic Party speaks during a meeting of the Finance, Economy, Planning and Budget Committee at the National Assembly in western Seoul on Nov. 17, 2025. [YONHAP]

President Lee Jae Myung will dispatch Rep. Chung Il-young of the ruling Democratic Party as a special envoy to Chile this week to congratulate the country's new president on his inauguration, the Blue House said on Monday.

Chung is scheduled to travel to Chile from Tuesday to Thursday to attend the inauguration ceremony of Chile's new president, José Antonio Kast, and deliver Lee's personal letter on developing bilateral ties with the new Chilean government, presidential spokesperson Kang Yu-jung announced in a written briefing.

The inauguration ceremony is scheduled to take place in the coastal city of Valparaiso on Wednesday.

During the visit, Chung will also attend a reception hosted by incumbent Chilean President Gabriel Boric and a luncheon hosted by Interior Minister-designate Claudio Alvarado, during which he will convey the Lee administration's commitment to strengthening friendly relations with Chile, Kang said.

The special envoy is also expected to hold discussions on ways to deepen economic ties based on the bilateral FTA and expand cooperation in various areas, including critical minerals, infrastructure, culture and people-to-people exchanges, according to the spokesperson.

Yonhap