South Korean President Lee Jae-myung will address the United Nations General Assembly in New York on September 22, 2026, outlining a blueprint for Korean Peninsula peace coexistence alongside plans for upcoming state visits, according to National Security Office Director Wi Sung-lac. The diplomatic itinerary, announced during a press briefing by Wi at the presidential office, spans from September 21 to September 27 and includes bilateral meetings in the United States and a state visit to Mexico.
UN General Assembly Address and Global Diplomacy
President Lee’s keynote speech at the UN General Assembly high-level session will focus on UN reform directions to solve global challenges while presenting South Korea’s contributions, according to National Security Office Director Wi Sung-lac. Following the address, the South Korean leader plans to meet with UN Secretary-General António Guterres to request continued international attention and cooperation for peace on the Korean Peninsula. While speculation surrounds a potential meeting with U.S. President Donald Trump, Wi stated that separate contacts with the U.S., Australia, and other key nations are arranged through various formats to maintain close leader-level exchanges and advance national interests.
On September 23, President Lee will attend the “Korea Investment Summit 2026,” bringing together finance and economic leaders from South Korea and the United States. According to the National Security Office, the event serves as a platform to promote South Korea’s artificial intelligence policies, vision, and capital market reforms to international investors. Wi noted that building on last year’s UN declaration marking the return of democratic South Korea, this year’s summit aims to share the nation’s policy experiences globally and secure robust international backing for peninsula peace policies.
Bilateral Cooperation and State Visit to Mexico
Following the New York schedule, President Lee travels to Mexico at the invitation of Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum, marking the first state visit by a South Korean president in 16 years. Arriving in Mexico City on the evening of September 23, Lee begins formal engagements on September 24 with a wreath-laying ceremony at the Altar de la Patria and an official welcoming ceremony at the National Palace. The leaders will hold a private meeting, an expanded summit, a memorandum of understanding signing ceremony, a luncheon, and a joint press briefing.
Economic and supply chain talks anchor the Mexico itinerary, with discussions covering energy, minerals, artificial intelligence, digital sectors, aerospace, and defense industries. According to Wi, South Korea and Mexico will examine institutional support for corporate expansion and explore defense industry cooperation as Mexico advances military modernization projects. Lee will also attend a business forum at the World Trade Center in Mexico City and visit a K-Expo venue on September 25 before returning to South Korea on September 26.
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