In Seoul on Jan. 8, South Korean Prime Minister Kim Min-seok and Foreign Minister Cho Hyun met separately with Takayuki Kobayashi, chairperson of Japan's Liberal Democratic Party's Policy Research Council, to discuss ways to advance bilateral ties. The meetings gain added significance ahead of President Lee Jae Myung's planned visit to Japan later this month. Both sides emphasized youth exchanges and economic cooperation while committing to stable relations.
On Jan. 8 in Seoul, Prime Minister Kim Min-seok met with Takayuki Kobayashi, chairperson of Japan's Liberal Democratic Party's (LDP) Policy Research Council, to discuss developing bilateral ties, particularly among the countries' youths. Kim highlighted the visit's added importance ahead of President Lee Jae Myung's planned trip to Japan later this month and called for strengthening cooperation across all possible areas. He expressed particular interest in economic and youth cooperation, hoping Kobayashi, as a rising Japanese politician, would help promote exchanges between young people.
Kobayashi agreed and pledged to contribute to expanding youth exchanges between the two countries, noting the palpable popularity of South Korean cultural content among Japanese youth. He also conveyed Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi's positive feelings toward South Korea and urged managing "difficult issues" between the neighbors to stabilize their relations.
Later that day, Foreign Minister Cho Hyun met with Kobayashi to discuss efforts to advance bilateral relations and other shared issues. Cho acknowledged that ties between Seoul and Tokyo are progressing in the right direction, thanks to continued "shuttle diplomacy," or regular leader visits, and expressed hope that Kobayashi would further deepen relations in various areas.
Kobayashi assessed that shuttle diplomacy has helped bilateral ties move forward in a future-oriented and stable manner, underscoring the importance of ongoing bilateral cooperation as well as the trilateral partnership with the United States. A former economic security minister, Kobayashi has served as LDP policy chief since October last year. The Policy Research Council's chair oversees the party's policy-making process and is considered one of the most powerful posts within the LDP.
These meetings are expected to lay groundwork for stable development in South Korea-Japan relations.
