South Korean President Lee Jae Myung departed on Monday, 21 September 2026, on a two-nation diplomatic trip that will take him first to New York for the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) High-Level Week and then to Mexico for a formal state visit — a journey his administration is framing as a push to elevate South Korea's global standing and deepen ties with a key trade partner.

Lee at the United Nations

President Lee is scheduled to address the UN General Assembly session on Tuesday (US time), where he plans to propose reforms to the world body aimed at tackling global challenges. He will also lay out his administration's vision for peaceful coexistence on the Korean Peninsula, according to National Security Adviser Wi Sung-lac.

On the sidelines, Lee is expected to hold bilateral contacts with the leaders of the United States, Australia, and other major nations. Wi noted that Lee is actively seeking an engagement with US President Donald Trump 'through various forms' during the High-Level Week. A separate meeting with UN Secretary-General António Guterres is also on the agenda, with Seoul intending to call for the world body's active cooperation in peninsula peace efforts.

Lee will additionally attend an investment forum bringing together economic and financial figures from South Korea and the United States, signalling that the New York leg carries a significant economic dimension alongside its diplomatic weight.

State Visit to Mexico

From Wednesday, Lee will be in Mexico at the invitation of Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum. The two leaders are set to hold formal summit talks, a luncheon, and a joint press announcement on Thursday.

Wi described Mexico as South Korea's largest trading partner in the Latin American region, with approximately 560 South Korean companies currently operating there. Seoul views Mexico as a critical gateway for Korean firms looking to access the broader North American market.

The summit agenda covers trade and investment expansion, stronger institutional support for Korean businesses operating in Mexico, and cooperation in energy and critical mineral supply chains — sectors of growing strategic importance globally. The two governments also plan to lay the groundwork for industrial collaboration in artificial intelligence (AI), digital technology, aerospace, and defence manufacturing.

Lee will also meet with the Korean diaspora community in Mexico and participate in a dedicated business forum.

Key Goals of the Trip

Wi outlined three overarching objectives for the trip: reinforcing South Korea's multilateral credentials at the UN, managing the sensitive US-South Korea relationship at a moment of active diplomacy over North Korea, and securing economic partnerships in a region where Korean firms are expanding rapidly. The visit to Mexico, in particular, is seen as a move to hedge supply-chain dependence by deepening roots in a country that bridges East Asia's manufacturing networks with North American demand.

Schedule and Return

President Lee is expected to depart Mexico on Saturday and return to Seoul on Sunday. The condensed itinerary — spanning the UN session, bilateral leader meetings, investor forums, and a full state visit — underscores the diplomatic intensity Seoul is bringing to this week's international calendar.