The Koreas | Politics | East Asia

Lee Jae-myung’s First Year Successes Put South Korea on the Path to Tangible Results

Last year, Lee stated in his inauguration speech that pragmatism and the national interest were the guiding principles of his presidency. 

On June 4, 2025, South Korean President Lee Jae-myung  took office, stating in his inauguration speech that South Korea stood at “the turning point of a great transformation.” 

In both his inauguration and Armed Forces Day speeches, Lee highlighted his administrations’ priorities as managing relationships with Seoul’s neighbors from a “practical, national-interest perspective,” using the ever-changing global security environment to create opportunities, and regaining wartime operational control – also known as OPCON transfer. 

One year later and the administration’s pragmatic policies have produced strategic accomplishments.

A Push for Self-reliant Defense

One of Lee’s major successes came in the days prior to the 2025 Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Forum in late October 2025, where U.S. President Donald Trump publicly supported South Korea’s desire to develop a nuclear-powered submarine. A few days after the summit, the two countries released a joint statement that affirmed the United States’ approval and added that Washington would work closely with Seoul for the submarine’s development and logistics, such as its fuel source. Since then, the Lee administration has steadily maintained its engagement with U.S. officials. Recently, officials from both countries completed two days of high-level meetings regarding the submarines, particularly to discuss measures to secure U.S. low-enriched uranium.

Since the October announcement, regional actors and international bodies have had mixed reactions to the news. The Korea JoongAng Daily reported that the International Atomic Energy Agency’s director-general “warned” Seoul that it would require “ironclad guarantees,” to maintain nonproliferation standards. After the news, Japan’s defense minister publicly stated that Japan must consider adding nuclear-powered submarines to its fleet as well, though there was little follow up – likely due to domestic sensitivities surrounding nuclear weaponization. North Korea criticized the South’s “aggressive actions” while showcasing its own newest submarine model. Meanwhile, China has made little public reaction to the submarine news, merely stating that Seoul must handle it with caution. These reactions are likely to evolve as South Korea shifts to a tangible development phase.

Steady Diplomacy With Japan… 

Since his inauguration, Lee has had relatively active engagements with Japan. Within Lee’s first year, he and Japanese Prime Minister Takaichi Sanae have met four times to discuss regional and global issues and cooperative efforts. Continuous shuttle diplomacy has historically indicated positive bilateral relations, with the previous president having more than a dozen of these engagements with Japanese prime ministers. At Lee and Takaichi’s first meeting, the pair agreed to cooperate on economic security and defense. That cooperation extended into the two countries’ latest iteration of its shuttle diplomacy, where they agreed to cooperate to create stability on resource supply chains, such as oil. Both countries also agreed to expand information sharing and communication channels to combat these economic challenges.

In the face of regional and global uncertainty due to the military and economic challenges posed by the conflict in the Middle East, Lee emphasized the necessity for regional cooperation. He stated at the summit that the two countries, including China, “must respect one another, cooperate” to “achieve genuine peace and stability in the region.” Seoul may continue to maintain the frequency of its meetings with Japan to strengthen the bilateral relationship and create tangible outcomes. However, historical grievances and territorial claims may also threaten the possibility for future engagements.

… While North Korea Ignores........

© The Diplomat