President Lee Jae-myung will make state visits to India and Vietnam from January 19 to 24 on a six-day trip. The visits will be accompanied by an economic delegation of approximately 200 members, including the heads of Korea's four largest conglomerates, with active discussions expected on both national cooperation and corporate investment.
National Security Advisor Wi Sung-lac announced the president's itinerary at a Blue House briefing on Thursday. President Lee will first visit New Delhi from January 19 to 21 at the invitation of Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi. This marks the first visit by a Korean president to India in eight years and the earliest state visit to the country by any Korean administration following its inauguration.
Wi described the significance of the India visit as "the full-scale launch of Global South diplomacy," adding that "we will accelerate negotiations to improve the Korea-India Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA) and lay the groundwork to achieve $50 billion in bilateral trade by 2030."
President Lee will then make a state visit to Hanoi, Vietnam, from January 22 to 24. He is scheduled to begin his official itinerary on January 22 with a summit with To Lam, General Secretary of the Communist Party of Vietnam and President.
The economic delegation to India will include Federation of Korean Industries Chairman Ryu Jin, Samsung Electronics Executive Chairman Jay Y. Lee, Hyundai Motor Group Executive Chairman Euisun Chung, and LG Group Chairman Kwang-mo Koo. For the Vietnam delegation, SK Group Chairman Tae-won Choi, who also serves as Korea Chamber of Commerce and Industry chairman, will replace Ryu, meaning all four major conglomerate heads are expected to participate. HD Hyundai Executive Chairman Ki-sun Chung will also join both delegations. Hyosung Group Chairman Hyun-joon Cho, who has long-standing ties with Vietnam, is also reported to be accompanying the delegation.
Vietnam is Korea's third-largest trading partner after China and the United States, and all four major conglomerates operate production bases and active businesses there. The visits could potentially lead to announcements of large-scale additional investment plans. Wi emphasized that "we will strengthen cooperation with the goal of achieving $150 billion in bilateral trade by 2030."
