President Lee Heads Home After US and Mexico Tour, Faces Mounting Domestic Issues

President Lee Jae-myung has departed for South Korea after wrapping up a five-night, seven-day tour of the United States and Mexico on the occasion of the United Nations General Assembly.

Upon his return, he is expected to immediately focus on a backlog of domestic political issues.

President Lee and First Lady Kim Hye-kyung boarded Air Force One at Felipe Ángeles International Airport on September 26, local time, seen off by Mexican Deputy Foreign Minister María Teresa Mercado, Director General for Asia-Pacific Fernando González, South Korean Ambassador to Mexico Lee Ju-il and his wife, among others.

Making the first state visit to Mexico by a South Korean president in 16 years, President Lee emphasized the need for a comprehensive trade agreement between the two nations during a summit with President Claudia Sheinbaum.

An official from Cheong Wa Dae explained that the "trade agreement" mentioned by President Lee refers to a Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA), adding that the two countries agreed to conduct a joint study on the economic effects of the agreement.

On the occasion of the summit, the two countries signed 17 memorandums of understanding (MOUs) across various fields, including a defense cooperation MOU to apply South Korean defense technology to modernizing Mexico's military, an aerospace industry cooperation MOU to discuss Mexico's potential acquisition of South Korea's FA-50 fighter jets, as well as agreements covering culture, tourism, customs, agricultural technology, and intellectual property rights.

Attending the Korea-Mexico Business Forum held in Mexico City, President Lee noted the cultural affinity between the two nations and stressed that cooperation should be enhanced so that South Korea's advanced technology can be well combined with Mexico's manufacturing base and its access to the North American market.

Meeting Mexican youths who love K-pop, President Lee and First Lady Kim emphasized the importance of cultural exchanges, saying, "Culture truly seems to not only connect people to people, but also nations to nations."

They then held lightsticks alongside attendees and Mexico's Minister of Culture, among others, to briefly watch a performance by K-pop idol group Stray Kids, concluding the schedule of their state visit to Mexico.

President Lee, who is returning home via Anchorage, Alaska, will confront a mountain of pending domestic issues immediately upon arrival.

Major pending issues cited include the conflict with Supreme Court Chief Justice Jo Hee-de surrounding the appointment of Supreme Court justices, a suspected landmine explosion in the Demilitarized Zone (DMZ), the issue of repatriating North Korean prisoners of war, and communication issues with hardliners in the ruling bloc who have voiced discord over prosecution reform.

(Photo: Yonhap News)
※ Please note: This article was translated by AI and may contain errors.