Key facts
- President Lee Jae Myung said South Korea will keep close cooperation with the U.S. administration, per Yonhap.
- Lee said Seoul would seek a bipartisan foundation for cooperation in Congress, per Yonhap.
- Lee instructed officials to prepare for changes in the external environment after the U.S. midterms, per Yonhap.
- Lee stressed protecting national interests and investments of South Korean firms, per Yonhap.
President Lee Jae Myung said at a Cabinet meeting on November 10, 2026 that South Korea will continue to cooperate closely with the U.S. administration and will seek to expand bipartisan support in Congress on issues related to the country and the alliance, Yonhap reported.
Lee spoke after the opposition Democratic Party in the United States won control of both the Senate and the House of Representatives in last week's midterm elections, according to the report. He said many changes are expected in the external environment and instructed officials to prepare thoroughly for possible changes.
"Utmost attention should be paid to minimizing negative effects from external uncertainties on the domestic economy," Lee said, according to Yonhap. He called for strengthening the foundation for cooperation and trust between the two countries from a mutually beneficial perspective and for efforts to ensure implementation of bilateral diplomatic and security agreements.
Lee stressed the importance of protecting national interests and investments of South Korean firms. He said South Korea would need continued close cooperation with the U.S. administration while establishing a bipartisan foundation for cooperation in Congress and expanding communication with state governments and the economic sector, the report said.
He also stressed consistency and flexibility amid global uncertainties and pledged to focus on diplomacy that prioritizes national interests and policies benefiting the people, according to Yonhap.