UN Journal Kayla Lee |  Korean President Lee Jae Myung held a summit on the morning of March 2 with Prime Minister Lawrence Wong during his state visit to Singapore. The two engaged in wide-ranging discussions on ways to deepen the strategic bilateral partnership, as well as major international issues, including the situation on the Korean Peninsula and developments in the Middle East.

Prime Minister Wong welcomed President Lee, noting his pleasure at receiving him in Singapore just over four months after their previous summit in Seoul last November. He described the visit as "an important catalyst for accelerating mutually beneficial practical cooperation between Korea and Singapore as strategic partners."

President Lee responded warmly, saying the meeting felt like reuniting with a close friend. Recalling Prime Minister Wong’s remark that "good things are always worth waiting for"—made at last year's summit when the two countries established a strategic partnership on the 50th anniversary of their diplomatic relations—President Lee called on both sides to continue setting new milestones in their relationship as "long-trusted partners."

Against the backdrop of a challenging external security and economic environment, President Lee proposed that the two countries advance cooperation around three pillars: strategic security cooperation, economic solidarity, and collaboration in future and advanced technologies. The two leaders discussed concrete areas of cooperation spanning defense and security, trade and investment, advanced technologies including AI, and energy and green transition.

On security, both leaders acknowledged that their shared commitment to strengthening defense capabilities through advanced technology makes them natural partners. They agreed to further expand ongoing joint research in advanced defense technology and to explore concrete cooperation in the defense industry.

The two leaders also agreed to continue strengthening multilateral cooperation against transnational crime at the regional level—including through the Korea-initiated international anti-online scam coordination body—in order to contribute to public safety across the region.

On trade and investment, the two leaders agreed to launch negotiations to upgrade the Korea-Singapore FTA, which has been in force since 2006. They committed to pursuing mutually beneficial improvements that reflect changes in the trade environment since then, including developments in the digital economy, economic security, and supply chains.

President Lee welcomed the signing of an Investment Partnership MOU between Korea Development Bank and Seviora, the asset management arm of Singapore's Temasek, and expressed anticipation for expanded investment cooperation in Korea's promising SMEs and new industries. The two leaders also agreed to explore pharmaceutical supply chain cooperation and to advance food security collaboration through the early conclusion of a Smart Farm Cooperation MOU.

The two leaders shared a vision of transitioning to an AI-based society that benefits everyone and agreed to strengthen cooperation and create synergies between their two countries as both are at the forefront of artificial intelligence and advanced technology. They agreed to pursue an "AI Cooperation Framework" and, building on that foundation, to expand joint research and investment in physical AI-driven industrial innovation and real-life AI applications.

The signed MOU on AI and Digital Technology Cooperation in Public Safety and the MOU on Intellectual Property Cooperation will help enhance AI utilization in policing and public administration, contributing to both countries' shared vision of "AI for all."

The two sides also agreed to expand science and technology cooperation, based on a Science and Technology Cooperation MOU covering quantum computing, space, and satellite technology, and an Environmental Satellite Data Sharing MOU for the joint use of satellite data in air quality research.

Both leaders shared the view that a practical approach to addressing climate change and securing sustainable energy is essential from the perspective of future growth and industrial transformation. They agreed to strengthen cooperation in small modular reactor (SMR) joint business model development and information sharing, based on the SMR Cooperation MOU signed during this visit. Deeper nuclear energy cooperation between the two countries is also expected to help create a favorable environment for Korean companies should Singapore move forward with nuclear power adoption in the future.

On people-to-people exchange, the two leaders noted encouragingly that mutual visits reached 990,000 last year and are expected to surpass one million this year — a record high. They agreed to strengthen institutional support for exchanges among future generations and for enhancing mutual cultural understanding, viewing these as key assets in the bilateral relationship.

 
President Lee expressed his strong support for Singapore's upcoming ASEAN chairmanship and his hope to work with Singapore to give concrete shape to the ASEAN cooperation vision Korea put forward at last year's Korea-ASEAN Summit: to be "a facilitator of dreams and hopes, a launchpad for growth and innovation, and a partner for peace and stability."

The two leaders also exchanged views on major regional and international issues. President Lee briefed Prime Minister Wong on the Korean government's efforts to resume inter-Korean dialogue and requested Singapore's constructive role, while Prime Minister Wong reaffirmed Singapore's support for Korea's efforts toward peace on the Korean Peninsula and a substantive resolution of the North Korean nuclear issue. Both leaders also assessed the impact of recent Middle East developments on regional and global security and the economy, expressing hope for the swift restoration of stability and peace in the region.

This state visit to Singapore marks the Lee administration's first bilateral visit to the ASEAN region, and is seen as a significant opportunity to broaden strategic cooperation with Singapore—a close partner sharing core values and a key economic ally—across a wide range of mutual interests.