South Korean President Lee Jae Myung has commenced a pivotal four-day state visit to China, landing in Beijing on Sunday. This marks his first trip to the nation since assuming office and is the first visit by a sitting South Korean president since 2019. The journey underscores Seoul's urgent drive to stabilize relations with its vital economic partner during a period of escalating geopolitical friction across Asia.
A Delicate Diplomatic Mission
The timing of President Lee's visit is highly sensitive. Regional diplomacy faces multiple challenges, including sharply deteriorated relations between China and Japan and simmering tensions surrounding Taiwan. This complex landscape presents Seoul with both a challenge and an opportunity to potentially position itself as a mediator, while carefully avoiding entanglement in the escalating rivalries among major global powers.
Adding to the urgency, North Korea conducted a ballistic missile launch just hours before Lee's arrival in Beijing. The missile traveled approximately 900 kilometers into waters off the Korean Peninsula's eastern coast, directly placing regional security and stability at the top of the agenda for talks with Chinese leaders.
Agenda: Trade, Security, and Thawing Exchanges
The core of the visit will be a summit meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping on Monday. Their discussions are anticipated to cover a broad range of issues, from bilateral trade and economic cooperation to pressing security concerns. This meeting follows President Xi's own trip to South Korea two months prior, his first in 11 years, where he emphasized peace and deeper cooperation.
Ahead of the visit, Lee's security chief, Wi Sung-lac, outlined Seoul's consistent position, stating respect for the One-China policy regarding Taiwan. He also confirmed that South Korea would urge Beijing to play a more constructive role in ensuring peace and stability on the Korean Peninsula, where China remains one of North Korea's most crucial economic backers.
The visit also aims to address long-standing cultural and economic constraints. Since 2016, China has largely restricted concerts and TV appearances by South Korean artists in retaliation for Seoul's deployment of the US THAAD missile defense system. Wi indicated that South Korea will seek a gradual restoration of these cultural exchanges.
Economic Delegation and Strategic Balancing Act
Recognizing the critical economic dimension, a high-powered delegation of South Korean business leaders is accompanying President Lee. The group includes top executives from conglomerates like Samsung Electronics, SK Group, and Hyundai Motor Group. Korean firms have faced intense competition in the Chinese market and lingering fallout from the THAAD dispute.
Analysts note that China's strained ties with Japan and pressure from the US on supply chains could make Beijing more receptive to strengthening economic engagement with South Korea, a key trade and technology partner. Since taking office in June 2025, Lee has signaled a more balanced foreign policy compared to his predecessor, Yoon Suk Yeol, who leaned closer to Washington. However, South Korea's enduring alliance with the United States inherently limits how far it can pivot towards China.
President Lee's itinerary includes a business forum in Beijing, a meeting with Premier Li Qiang, and a stop in Shanghai on January 6-7, where he is scheduled to visit the site of the historic Korean provisional government building.
