Key facts
- President Lee Jae Myung has begun an 11-day overseas trip starting in San Francisco.
- The trip includes state visits to Brazil, Chile, and Argentina.
- In San Francisco, Lee will meet with CEOs of OpenAI, Nvidia, Anthropic, and Broadcom.
- A 'San Francisco AI declaration' will be announced to outline South Korea's AI strategy.
- Discussions with South American leaders will focus on economic and security partnerships, leveraging the region's natural resources.
President Lee Jae Myung commenced an 11-day overseas journey on Friday, beginning in San Francisco before proceeding to three South American nations. This marks his inaugural visit to the region since assuming office in June 2025.
During his two-day stay in San Francisco, President Lee is scheduled to engage with the chief executives of four major technology companies: OpenAI's Sam Altman, Nvidia's Jensen Huang, and leaders from Anthropic and Broadcom. The discussions are expected to center on investment opportunities and collaborative initiatives.
Later in the day, President Lee is slated to deliver a "San Francisco AI declaration" at a high-level artificial intelligence event. This declaration will articulate South Korea's strategic vision for advancing its AI industry and fostering international cooperation in the field, according to presidential officials.
From Sunday through Wednesday, President Lee will undertake a state visit to Brazil as part of a broader strategy to enhance South Korea's diplomatic and economic presence in South America. The itinerary includes a summit with Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva in the capital, Brasilia, and a business roundtable in Sao Paulo featuring South Korean and Brazilian companies.
Following Brazil, the South Korean president will visit Chile and Argentina on Thursday and Friday, respectively. He is scheduled for summit talks with Chilean President Jose Antonio Kast and Argentine President Javier Milei. These engagements with the resource-rich South American nations are anticipated to facilitate the establishment of economic and security partnerships, as previously stated by National Security Adviser Wi Sung-lac.
President Lee is also scheduled for a stopover in Frankfurt, Germany, on Sunday, where he will meet with the local South Korean community before returning home the following day.