(Seoul) South Korean President Lee Jae-myung said his country has emerged from the crisis of martial law last December and is ready to resume its key role in global affairs as the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit in Gyeongju approaches next week.
"The international community's confidence in South Korea has been fully restored," Lee told The Straits Times in an interview.
South Korea's political turmoil began last December when then-President Yoon Seok-yeol abruptly declared martial law and was subsequently impeached. On June 3rd of this year, Lee Jae-myung won the presidential election and was sworn in at the National Assembly the following morning, pledging to lead the country out of the crisis.
Lee believes South Korea has regained its footing diplomatically. "Following participation in the G7 summit and the UN General Assembly, successfully hosting the APEC Leaders' Informal Meeting will demonstrate to the world that South Korea is once again playing a central role on the global stage."
He predicts that at the upcoming ASEAN summit in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia on October 26, regional partners "will once again see that South Korea remains a reliable and forward-looking partner amidst increasing global uncertainty."
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However, Lee Jae-myung noted during his visit that South Korea is still grappling with its complex relationships with its two major trading partners, the United States and China. A trade agreement between the US and South Korea, involving a $350 billion (S$450 billion) investment commitment, has yet to be finalized.
Lee said that while he is eager to reach a compromise with visiting US President Trump next week, he is cautious about reaching an agreement by any artificial deadline.
Lee also noted that economic competition with China is intensifying, and anti-China protests in South Korea are also impacting people-to-people relations between the two countries. He believes that while competing fiercely with China, it is crucial to explore new areas of cooperation.
Lee emphasized that South Korea and the US should develop a comprehensive strategic partnership oriented towards the future while maintaining and advancing stable relations with China, making South Korea a bridge to ease tensions in Northeast Asia and promote shared prosperity.
Lee also noted that South Korea's partnership with Singapore is built on mutual trust. "I believe that as two countries that embody the 'East Asian Miracle,' South Korea and Singapore can wisely navigate the changing global order and become true leaders in the 21st century."
