Seoul, Oct 26 (NationPress) President Lee Jae Myung of South Korea has set off for Malaysia on Sunday to participate in this year's ASEAN summit meetings. His objective is to enhance connections with the regional bloc and bolster collaboration against online fraud and other forms of transnational crime.

Accompanied by First Lady Kim Hea Kyung, Lee boarded the presidential aircraft at Seoul Air Base in Seongnam, just south of the capital, en route to Kuala Lumpur for a two-day visit—the first to Southeast Asia since he assumed office in June, as reported by Yonhap News Agency.

On Monday, he will engage in the ASEAN summit, where he plans to explore pathways to enhance South Korea's comprehensive strategic partnership with the ten-member bloc.

Lee also aims to present his vision for strengthening cooperation in artificial intelligence, discuss collaborative measures against online scams, and seek ASEAN's backing for his peace initiatives regarding the Korean Peninsula, according to National Security Adviser Wi Sung-lac.

Following this, Lee will participate in the ASEAN Plus Three summit, which includes South Korea, Japan, and China, to advocate for broader regional cooperation. During this summit, he is expected to have his first in-person discussions with Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi and Chinese Premier Li Qiang.

On the sidelines, he will confer with Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Manet about bilateral relations and ongoing efforts to combat the rising incidents of online scams targeting South Koreans, especially following the tragic torture and death of a college student lured to Cambodia.

Lee is also slated to meet with Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim to deliberate on deepening economic cooperation before his return late Monday.

This trip marks the beginning of a busy week of diplomatic activities, as South Korea prepares to host the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit and associated economic events in the southeastern city of Gyeongju.

This year's gathering is attracting significant attention, especially with US President Donald Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping set to hold a pivotal summit amid escalating trade tensions between the two global powerhouses.

On the sidelines, Lee is scheduled to meet Trump for a second in-person summit on October 29 and will have his first summit with Xi on November 1, with both leaders making official visits to South Korea, according to the presidential office.