UNJournal  Lee Sung Jun |  Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni will pay an official visit to South Korea from January 17 to 19, Cheong Wa Dae announced, marking the first visit by a European leader since the inauguration of Lee Jae-myung.

The visit will also be the first time South Korea welcomes a foreign leader at Cheong Wa Dae since the presidential office returned there, and the first bilateral summit visit by an Italian prime minister in 19 years.

President Lee and Prime Minister Meloni are scheduled to hold summit talks and an official luncheon on January 19.

Expanding Cooperation in Trade and Advanced Technologies
During the summit, the two leaders are expected to discuss ways to expand cooperation in trade and investment, as well as in artificial intelligence, space, defense, semiconductors and other cutting-edge technologies.

They are also expected to exchange views on education, cultural cooperation, people-to-people exchanges, and major international issues.

Italy is South Korea’s fourth-largest trading partner within the European Union, and approximately one million South Koreans visit Italy each year, according to Cheong Wa Dae.

Cooperation Ahead of the Milan Winter Olympics
President Lee is also expected to request Prime Minister Meloni’s support to ensure the safety and smooth participation of South Korean athletes at the upcoming Milan Winter Olympics, scheduled to be held in Italy next month.

140 Years of Diplomatic Ties, Strategic Partnership Deepened
South Korea and Italy established diplomatic relations in 1884, marking more than 140 years of bilateral ties. In 2018, the two countries elevated their relationship to a strategic partnership, expanding cooperation across political, economic, cultural and defense sectors.

Cheong Wa Dae said Meloni’s visit is expected to further strengthen cooperation with Italy—“a major political, economic and military power in Europe and a global center of culture and arts”—and to deepen the strategic partnership between the two nations.