South Korea’s Finance Minister Lee Hyung-il departed on October 14 to make his international conference debut at a series of high-level global economic meetings in Bangkok, Thailand. The schedule spans the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and World Bank (WB) annual meetings, alongside concurrent gatherings of G20 and G7 finance ministers and central bank governors.
G20 and G7 Ministerial Schedule
On October 15, Lee will attend the G20 finance ministers and central bank governors meeting, which serves as the final in-person ministerial gathering ahead of the G20 summit scheduled for December. Discussions during this session will include the activity direction of the United Kingdom, the upcoming chair country. On the same day, Lee participates in the G7 finance ministers and central bank governors meeting in his capacity as an invited country.
This marks the first time a South Korean finance minister has been invited to two G7 finance ministerial meetings, following his previous attendance in May. According to the Ministry of Finance and Economy, the consecutive invitations reflect South Korea’s elevated international standing as a G7+ country
and underpin plans to actively participate in global economic discussions while strengthening cooperation with existing G7 financial authorities.
On the morning of October 17, Lee will take part in the International Monetary and Financial Committee (IMFC) meeting to discuss world economic outlooks and policy response directions for major economic issues.
Bilateral Talks and Financial Institutions
During his business trip, Lee is scheduled to hold a series of bilateral meetings with key international counterparts. His itinerary includes discussions with the finance ministers of Japan, the United Kingdom, Germany, Australia, Saudi Arabia, Singapore, and Poland.
Lee will also meet with heads of major international financial institutions, including the IMF, the Asian Development Bank (ADB), the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD), and the Central American Bank for Economic Integration (CABEI). Furthermore, the schedule involves consultations with executives from global credit rating agencies—Moody’s, Fitch, and Standard & Poor’s (S&P)—as well as the Chief Executive Officer of the Euroclear Group.
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