South Korea's National Assembly Speaker Cho Jeong-sik departed on Tuesday, 6 October 2026, on a nine-day, four-nation tour of Europe covering Italy, Vatican City, Croatia, and Greece — his first overseas trip since assuming office in June. The visit is centred on expanding bilateral economic and industrial cooperation across advanced technologies, energy, defence, and maritime sectors.

Agenda in Italy and Vatican City

In Italy, Cho is scheduled to meet Lorenzo Fontana, President of the Italian Chamber of Deputies, and Gian Marco Centinaio, Vice President of the Senate, on Wednesday. The discussions are expected to focus on broadening parliamentary exchanges and supporting economic and industrial collaboration between the two countries.

At Vatican City, the Speaker is set to meet Cardinal Pietro Parolin, Secretary of State of the Holy See, and Cardinal Lazarus You Heung-sik. Cho plans to convey the South Korean National Assembly's commitment to supporting World Youth Day 2027, which South Korea will host. He is also expected to seek the Vatican's continued attention and backing for peace on the Korean Peninsula and for the resumption of dialogue between South and North Korea.

Croatia Talks: Technology, Energy and Defence

On the third leg of the trip, Cho will travel to Croatia on Friday for a series of high-level meetings with President Zoran Milanovic, Parliament Speaker Gordan Jandrokovic, and Prime Minister Andrej Plenkovic. The two sides are expected to discuss expanding cooperation in advanced technologies and the energy and defence industries — areas where both nations have expressed growing strategic interest.

Greece Meetings: Shipbuilding, EVs and Renewables

The final stop is Greece, where Cho will hold talks with President Constantine Tassoulas and President of the Hellenic Parliament Nikitas Kaklamanis on Monday. Key agenda items include cooperation in shipbuilding and shipping, electric vehicles and batteries, and solar and wind energy — sectors where South Korea holds significant industrial expertise.

Constitutional Push at Home

The trip comes as Cho has been signalling a domestic constitutional agenda. In July, South Korea's National Assembly held a ceremony commemorating the 78th anniversary of the proclamation of the country's Constitution in 1948 — the first such ceremony since the government redesignated Constitution Day as a public holiday after an 18-year gap. Addressing the gathering of senior officials and foreign diplomats, Cho called for a constitutional amendment. 'The old framework can no longer embrace today's blind spots in human rights or social conflicts in the future,' he said. 'Let us open a new era of grand transformation with a constitution for all that upholds the dignity of every citizen,' he added.

The four-nation European tour is expected to conclude in the second week of October, with outcomes on bilateral cooperation frameworks likely to be announced upon Cho's return to Seoul.