President Lee Jae-myung arrived at Ezeiza International Airport in Buenos Aires, Argentina, on July 30, beginning a three-day official visit.
This marks the first official visit by a South Korean president to Argentina in 22 years, since former President Roh Moo-hyun in 2004. Argentina is the final stop in President Lee's South American tour, which included visits to San Francisco, Brazil, and Chile.
President Lee and First Lady Kim Hye-kyung landed at the airport around 11 p.m. local time.
On July 31, President Lee will hold a summit with Argentine President Javier Milei to discuss ways to enhance bilateral relations and practical cooperation in economic security.
Argentina is the world's fourth-largest lithium producer and possesses abundant energy and food resources, including shale gas and agricultural products. The South Korean government aims to establish a critical mineral supply chain by linking Argentina's resources with South Korea's battery and advanced manufacturing technologies for lithium exploration, development, processing, and utilization.
Another key agenda item for the summit is the resumption of trade agreement negotiations between South Korea and Mercosur, of which Argentina is a member along with Brazil, Uruguay, and Paraguay.
Following the summit, President Lee will meet with Buenos Aires Mayor Jorge Macri, where he is expected to request support from the city government for the approximately 23,000-member Korean community in Argentina, the second largest in South America.
President Lee will then hold a dinner meeting with local Koreans to encourage their integration and activities while listening to their concerns about living in Argentina.
After concluding his schedule in Argentina, President Lee will travel to Frankfurt, Germany, on August 1, where he will meet with local Koreans before returning to South Korea.
* This article has been translated by AI.
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