President Lee made this request during a welcoming event for invited countries at the G7 summit in Évian-les-Bains, France.
Before a group photo session, President Lee engaged in a brief 30-second conversation with Trump, who appeared cheerful while speaking. President Lee nodded in response to Trump's remarks.
Kang Yu-jung, the chief spokesperson for the Blue House, stated in a written briefing that during the group photo session, President Lee greeted Trump, who first inquired about the current state of inter-Korean relations.
Kang added that Trump expressed his willingness to work towards resolving the North Korean issue.
Earlier, President Lee was welcomed by French President Emmanuel Macron as he entered the venue.
When Macron greeted him, President Lee responded, "I'm so happy," and the two leaders exchanged smiles, shook hands, and took a commemorative photo.
President Lee also conversed with Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni before taking his place with other leaders for the group photo.
Following this, President Lee attended expanded G7 meetings.
He first held a bilateral meeting with German Chancellor Friedrich Merz to explore cooperation between the two countries.
During their meeting, President Lee remarked, "Germany and South Korea can create synergy through cooperation in many areas."
He added, "I am very pleased to meet you, Chancellor, and I hope we can work together to elevate the relationship between Korea and Germany to a new level."
Chancellor Merz responded that the bilateral relationship is very strong, noting that South Korea is highly regarded in Germany and that cooperation has been progressing well.
Merz also announced plans to visit South Korea in October, expressing hope to meet again and participate in a planned meeting to share valuable insights.
The two leaders previously held their first summit during the G20 meeting in Johannesburg, South Africa, last November.
Additionally, President Lee held a bilateral meeting with Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney.
After attending the expanded G7 meeting, President Lee stated, "There is much we can cooperate on between our two countries."
The two nations are currently increasing their engagement ahead of the final selection for Canada's next-generation submarine project, valued at 60 trillion won.
President Lee emphasized the deep ties between Canada and South Korea dating back to the Korean War, stating, "We have received significant support, and now, as countries in similar positions, our relationship is developing greatly."
Prime Minister Carney noted that the partnership has continued to grow since their last meeting in Korea, highlighting strengthened cooperation in defense, investment, and culture.
The two leaders previously met during the APEC summit in Gyeongju last October. In their public remarks that day, there was no direct mention of the submarine project.
South Korea is currently competing with Germany's Thyssenkrupp Marine Systems (TKMS) for the submarine project, with the announcement of the contractor expected by the end of June.
Meanwhile, President Lee expressed in a post on X (formerly Twitter) that being invited to the summit for the second consecutive year reflects the international community's trust and expectations for South Korea. He stated, "I will return proudly to convey our strengthened capabilities and confidence on the world stage."
* This article has been translated by AI.
Copyright ⓒ Aju Press All rights reserved.