Key facts
- President Lee Jae Myung's approval rating rose 0.5% to 47%.
- The approval rating increase follows a six-week decline.
- Lee was scheduled to depart for Turkey to attend the NATO summit.
- He will also visit Mongolia for a state visit.
- Lee will meet with NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte and other leaders.
- South Korea aims to expand its presence in the global defense market.
President Lee Jae Myung's approval rating has seen a slight increase of 0.5% to 47%, breaking a six-week downward trend, according to a recent poll. This uptick coincides with Lee's scheduled departure for an international trip.
Lee was set to travel to Turkey to participate in the NATO summit, where leaders of the 32 member countries, including U.S. President Donald Trump, will convene. The South Korean president accepted an invitation from NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte to attend the summit and planned to meet with Rutte shortly after his arrival in Ankara. The summit occurs amid heightened global security concerns, including the Russia-Ukraine war and the Middle East conflict, prompting member nations to consider increasing defense spending.
On the sidelines of the NATO summit, Lee was also slated to meet with representatives from Japan, Australia, and New Zealand, forming the Indo-Pacific Four (IP4) with South Korea. He was scheduled to deliver a keynote speech at a defense industry forum focused on "Shared Values, Stronger Industrial Base." The president's agenda also included bilateral meetings with other attending leaders, as South Korea aims to bolster its presence in the global defense market.
Following his engagements in Turkey, Lee was scheduled for a state visit to Mongolia from Thursday to Saturday, at the invitation of President Ukhnaagiin Khurelsukh. The visit aims to declare a "golden era of South Korea-Mongolia relations" and explore economic cooperation through a business forum. Lee is also expected to attend the Naadam Festival, Mongolia's major cultural celebration, as a special guest. This visit to Mongolia marks the first by a South Korean president in 15 years.