Japan's PM eyes May 19 S. Korea summit in Lee's hometown, report says

Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi is considering a two-day visit to South Korea beginning May 19 to hold talks with President Lee Jae Myung in Lee's hometown of Andong, according to Kyodo News and other Japanese media.

The potential visit would extend a pattern of shuttle diplomacy between Tokyo and Seoul and mark a fresh push to align the two nations on energy and critical mineral supply chains strained by Middle East conflict — a relationship closely watched by the Korean-American community across Southern California.

Takaichi is weighing a two-day trip starting May 19, with talks set to take place in Andong — roughly 190 kilometers southeast of Seoul — according to Kyodo News. Discussions are expected to center on economic security, including energy supplies and critical mineral supply chains that have come under pressure from the ongoing Middle East conflict.

Takaichi first traveled to South Korea in October 2025, just nine days after taking office, when she held talks with Lee on the sidelines of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation summit in Gyeongju, the Korea Times reported.

Lee returned the gesture in January 2026 with a visit to Japan, meeting Takaichi in Nara Prefecture — her hometown — in a format that mirrors the proposed Andong summit. The reciprocal visits have drawn attention as a sign of renewed institutionalized dialogue between the two neighbors.

Economic security cooperation has emerged as a cornerstone of both governments' strategic agendas, particularly on reducing exposure to single-source supply chains for minerals critical to semiconductor and battery production. An agreement in this area could carry broader significance for technology supply chains across Asia.

For the Korean-American community in Orange County and across Southern California, closer Japan-South Korea ties can ease travel, streamline cross-border business and strengthen cultural exchange within the diaspora.

No official announcement had been made by either government as of May 9. The Korea Times cited Kyodo News and other Japanese media outlets as the basis for the report.