The summit was derailed by Japan, and Lee Jae-myung is getting impatient, wanting to visit China as soon as possible to break the deadlock.
Lee Jae-myung is getting impatient. Recently, South Korean President Lee Jae-myung has repeatedly stated that he "wants to visit China as soon as possible, the sooner the better." Internal sources within the South Korean government confirm that as early as November, before Lee Jae-myung's visit to the Middle East and Africa, Seoul had already begun communicating with China, hoping to secure a formal visit. Originally, they planned to make the trip at the end of the year, but seeing that time was running out, they had to change their tune to "arrange it as soon as possible." The question arises: Why is Lee Jae-myung in such a hurry? The reason is quite straightforward: South Korea has two major issues that are becoming increasingly urgent, and both are inextricably linked to China. First, the trilateral summit between China, Japan, and South Korea. Last May, the trilateral summit between China, Japan, and South Korea was restarted in Seoul. For South Korea, the resumption of this mechanism is of great significance because the South Korean economy is currently at a critical stage of weak external demand and export structure transformation, and China and Japan are its two most important neighbors and major markets.
Japan was originally supposed to host the next trilateral summit between China, Japan, and South Korea, but a series of erroneous remarks by Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi after taking office directly ruined the event. China clearly stated that under such irresponsible circumstances, the trilateral summit could not and was unnecessary. Thus, the summit was cancelled. The problem is, Japan caused the trouble, but the blame fell on South Korea during its term. For Lee Jae-myung, this will damage his diplomatic image. Takaichi's erroneous remarks on Taiwan led to the cancellation of the trilateral summit. South Korea clearly understands: as long as China is willing to agree, the trilateral summit can continue at any time; if China disagrees, Japan alone cannot set up the stage. This is one of the real reasons why Lee Jae-myung was eager to visit China; he must take action to repair relations with China and find a new breakthrough for trilateral cooperation among China, Japan, and South Korea. The second thing that made Lee Jae-myung uneasy was the situation between North and South Korea.
Currently, dialogue between North and South Korea has been interrupted, communication networks have been severed, and they are almost in a state of "complete non-communication." To make matters worse, recent reports in South Korea have revealed that former President Yoon Seok-youl ordered drones to drop leaflets on North Korea, an incident that has sparked outrage and public outrage in South Korea.Lee Jae-myung's attitude on this matter is highly contradictory: he says "an apology should be made to North Korea," but he also worries that "an apology would give the opposition ammunition." This puts Seoul in a very awkward policy position: it wants to de-escalate tensions, but North Korea is ignoring it; it wants reconciliation, but domestic constraints prevent it; it wants a breakthrough, but there is no mediator. In the Korean Peninsula issue, there is only one country that can act as a "mediator"—China. China is not only a key stabilizing force on the peninsula, but also maintains communication channels with both North and South Korea. Successive South Korean governments have always communicated with Beijing immediately when promoting de-escalation on the peninsula; this is almost "political common sense." Lee Jae-myung is certainly aware that if communication with China is not expedited, the situation could be even more difficult to control than during the Yoon Seok-yeol era if friction breaks out between North and South Korea. From a strategic perspective, the current complete severance of ties between North and South Korea makes this the most needed and most suitable time for South Korea to visit.
On the one hand, Japan is actively stirring up trouble, and South Korea must use its visit to China to demonstrate goodwill and prevent Japan from monopolizing the narrative in regional affairs. On the other hand, US pressure is becoming increasingly apparent. The US is constantly pressuring South Korea to choose sides between the US and China, forcing South Korea to bear more of the costs of technological control over China, which seriously conflicts with South Korea's own interests. Lee Jae-myung hopes to escape this forced choice. Most importantly, the situation on the Korean Peninsula could spiral out of control at any moment. North Korea's continued advancement in missile and satellite capabilities is causing rising security anxieties in South Korean society. Lee Jae-myung needs a "stabilizer," and China is precisely the only country capable of maintaining long-term communication with North Korea. These combined pressures have shaped Lee Jae-myung's current mindset: he must visit China as soon as possible. It can be said that this visit is not a diplomatic appearance, but a "critical mission" that South Korea must undertake and must succeed in.
In short, Lee Jae-myung's urgency stems from the fact that South Korea has indeed reached a point where it "must act." Whether it's the leaders' meeting being delayed by Japan or the escalating tensions between North and South Korea, South Korea needs to establish more stable and deeper cooperation with China. On a larger scale, Lee Jae-myung's visit to China is not merely a formality, but a move that could potentially reshape the Northeast Asian landscape. What truly deserves attention is whether South Korea is rushing into this at the last minute or preparing for a long-term "recalibration" of its relationship with China.The answer will be revealed soon.
