Prime Minister Takaichi is visiting Andong for a two-day trip to meet with President Lee.
This visit serves as a reciprocal gesture following President Lee's trip to Nara Prefecture, Prime Minister Takaichi's hometown, in January as part of ongoing shuttle diplomacy.
This marks the third in-person meeting between the two leaders, following the APEC summit in Gyeongju last October and their meeting in January.
The summit is the sixth Korea-Japan summit since President Lee took office.
Previously, President Lee held three summits with Takaichi's predecessor, Shigeru Ishiba, in June and August of last year and in September in Busan.
Prime Minister Takaichi is scheduled to arrive at Daegu Airport this afternoon, where he will be greeted by Deputy Foreign Minister Kim Jin-ah before heading to the hotel for the summit.
President Lee plans to personally welcome Takaichi at the hotel entrance, where a traditional honor guard and military band will escort the Prime Minister's vehicle. The Blue House has arranged a state-level welcome for Takaichi, including a ceremonial display of 12 honor guards at the hotel entrance.
The two leaders will hold both a small group meeting and an expanded session before announcing the outcomes of their discussions in a joint press conference.
During the summit, they are expected to explore various cooperation measures, including responses to the ongoing conflict in the Middle East, contributions to a free trade order, enhancing security in Northeast Asia, and addressing supply chain crises.
Following the summit, the two leaders will attend a dinner and social event.
The dinner will feature fusion Korean dishes inspired by the traditional Andong dish 'Jjimdak,' along with 'Jeonggyea,' a chicken dish traditionally served to honored guests, grilled Andong beef ribs, Andong rice, and seafood hot pot, reflecting the spirit of hospitality in Andong. The dinner will also include traditional Andong liquor, Tesa-ju, and sake from Nara Prefecture, symbolizing the friendship between the two nations.
For dessert, a plate will feature 'Jeonyak,' a type of traditional Korean sweet, alongside Japanese mochi. A piano performance by Korean-Japanese pianist Yang Bang-ean will follow.
The two leaders will then travel to Hahoe Village, where a special traditional cultural performance, 'Seonyujulbulnori,' and a creative pansori piece titled 'Fleeting Sparks' have been prepared for Prime Minister Takaichi.
The Blue House plans to provide welcome gifts at Takaichi's accommodation, including traditional Andong medicinal treats made from wheat and yam, along with Tesa-ju.
Chief Spokesperson Kang Yu-jeong stated in a written briefing on May 17, "This meeting is expected to deepen the strong trust and friendship between the two leaders, given its reciprocal nature following President Lee's visit to Prime Minister Takaichi's hometown of Nara."
* This article has been translated by AI.
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