Lee Jae Myung on Xi Jinping
TL;DR
Lee Jae Myung seeks pragmatic partnership with Xi Jinping, focusing on trade, dialogue, and North Korea mediation.
Key Points
He asked Chinese President Xi Jinping to serve as a mediator in the North Korean nuclear crisis during their January 2026 meeting.
Lee stressed the need for China and South Korea to jointly oppose protectionism and practice true multilateralism, according to a Chinese government statement.
He publicly called for sanctioning groundless incitement of hatred against Chinese people, prioritizing economic interests over emotional responses to bilateral issues.
Summary
South Korean President Lee Jae Myung has actively pursued engagement with Chinese leader Xi Jinping, emphasizing the need for a stable and deepening strategic cooperative partnership between the two nations. During his state visit to Beijing in January 2026, Lee stressed that a healthy bilateral relationship aligns with the trend of the times, calling for mutual respect of core interests and proper resolution of differences through dialogue. The South Korean leader's primary immediate focus in discussions with Xi was requesting China to adopt a mediating role to help resolve the protracted North Korean nuclear crisis and ease inter-Korean animosities. He also underscored the importance of maintaining close cooperation to jointly uphold multilateralism and safeguard free trade amid global uncertainties.
Lee Jae Myung's approach appears rooted in maintaining economic ties while navigating geopolitical complexities, contrasting with domestic sentiments of antipathy toward China over specific issues like fine dust and perceived historical slights. Upon taking office, Lee publicly advocated for maintaining vigilance against groundless hatred while urging a neutral media stance on contentious issues, framing the need for constructive engagement as paramount to protecting the national economy. The dialogue with Xi resulted in the witnessing of several cooperation documents across sectors like technology and trade, indicating a transactional and forward-looking foundation for their relationship, despite underlying strategic divergences.
Key Quotes
“We're making efforts but all our channels (with North Korea) are completely blocked so we can't communicate at all. I told him it would be good for China to play the role of a mediator for peace”
Frequently Asked Questions
Lee Jae Myung views Xi Jinping as a necessary partner with whom he seeks a sound strategic cooperative partnership. His position is defined by active diplomacy focused on practical cooperation and seeking China's role in regional security matters. The South Korean president aims to deepen ties while respecting China's core interests.
Lee Jae Myung specifically requested that President Xi Jinping play the role of a mediator to help resolve the North Korean nuclear crisis. This request was made during their summit in Beijing in early January 2026. He stated that all South Korean channels to Pyongyang were currently blocked.
The South Korean president advocates for strengthening economic ties and maintaining close bilateral cooperation to ensure stability in industrial supply chains. He advocates for seeking common ground while putting aside differences in their relationship. This approach is meant to inject positive energy into regional peace and development.
Sources5
President Xi Jinping Holds Talks With ROK President Lee Jae Myung_Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the People's Republic of China
South Korean leader says he asked China's Xi to act as mediator on North Korea issues
South Korea's Lee says he asked Xi to play mediating role in North Korea
China and South Korea Advised to Safeguard Free Trade
President Lee Jae-myung's response to anti-Chinese sentiment : r/korea
* This is not an exhaustive list of sources.