South Korea's Lee arrives in Brussels for talks with Belgian, EU leaders

South Korean President Lee Jae Myung arrived in Brussels on Tuesday to hold bilateral meetings with Belgian Prime Minister Bart De Wever, King Philippe and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, the Korea Times reported.

The visit marks the 125th anniversary of diplomatic relations between South Korea and Belgium and is part of a 10-day European trip that will culminate in Lee's attendance at the Group of Seven summit in Italy and France. Discussions are expected to focus on expanding bilateral cooperation and securing European market access for South Korean companies, according to the Korea Times.

Lee arrived in Brussels as the first stop of a 10-day overseas trip that will later take him to Italy and France for the G7 summit, the Korea Times reported. He is also scheduled to meet with members of the South Korean community in Belgium during the visit.

Bilateral talks with Prime Minister De Wever and a courtesy call on King Philippe are the centerpiece of the Brussels agenda, according to the Korea Times. A separate meeting with European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen is also on the schedule.

The trip carries symbolic weight beyond the diplomatic calendar: Lee's arrival falls on the occasion of the 125th anniversary of formal ties between Seoul and Brussels. South Korea and Belgium established diplomatic relations in 1901, making this one of Seoul's longest-standing partnerships in Europe.

A key economic objective of the Brussels stop is to help South Korean companies establish or strengthen their footholds in European markets, the Korea Times reported. Expanding bilateral cooperation across multiple sectors is expected to top the agenda in meetings with both Belgian and EU counterparts.

After concluding his meetings in Brussels, Lee is scheduled to travel to Italy and France to participate in the G7 summit, capping the 10-day European trip, according to the Korea Times.