September 21, 2026: South Korean President Lee Jae Myung begins a September 21-27 trip to the United States and Mexico, with the United Nations General Assembly and bilateral diplomacy at the center of the schedule. Reuters reports that Lee is seeking meetings with U.S. President Donald Trump and other leaders while Washington and Seoul continue negotiations over a major South Korean investment package in the United States.
Lee's United States schedule
Lee is traveling to New York for the UN General Assembly, where he is scheduled to deliver a keynote speech on Tuesday. According to South Korea's presidential office, the speech will focus on UN reform and Lee's vision for peace and coexistence on the Korean Peninsula.
Lee is also scheduled to meet UN Secretary-General António Guterres and pursue bilateral meetings with the leaders of the United States, Australia and other countries on the sidelines of the assembly.
Potential meeting with President Trump
A meeting between Lee and Trump is being considered, Reuters reported. The timing is significant because Washington and Seoul are still negotiating details of a $350 billion South Korean investment package in the United States under a trade agreement reached by the allies last year.
Reuters reported that South Korean officials said negotiations were continuing after Seoul postponed a parliamentary briefing on the plans that had been scheduled for the previous week. A potential Trump-Lee meeting could therefore provide another opportunity to discuss implementation details, but the cited report did not say that a meeting was definitively confirmed.
Why the investment package matters
The investment plan is part of the broader economic relationship between the United States and South Korea. Both countries have interests in manufacturing, technology, supply chains and strategic industries. The precise structure and implementation of the investment commitment remain subjects of negotiation.
Lee's Mexico visit
After the UN meetings, Lee is scheduled to travel to Mexico City and meet President Claudia Sheinbaum. Reuters reported that the two governments plan to discuss trade, energy, aerospace and cultural cooperation.
South Korea also sees opportunities for expanded defense cooperation as Mexico modernizes its military. The leaders are expected to hold a joint press conference and oversee the signing of memorandums of understanding after their summit.
Why the UN trip matters for Seoul
South Korea uses the UN gathering as a major diplomatic venue because it brings together leaders from countries with interests in security on the Korean Peninsula, trade, technology and regional stability. Lee's speech is also intended to outline his government's approach to UN reform and inter-Korean peace.
What to watch
- Whether Lee and Trump hold a bilateral meeting.
- Whether Washington and Seoul make progress on the $350 billion investment package.
- Lee's UN speech on Tuesday.
- The South Korea-Mexico summit and new memorandums of understanding.
- Potential cooperation in trade, energy, aerospace and defense.
FAQ
When is Lee Jae Myung visiting the United States?
Reuters reports that Lee's United States and Mexico trip runs from September 21 through September 27, 2026.
Will Lee meet Donald Trump?
A meeting is being considered, but Reuters reported that it had not been definitively confirmed in the cited report.
What is the $350 billion investment package?
It is a major South Korean investment commitment in the United States being negotiated under a trade agreement reached by the two allies last year.
What happens after the UN General Assembly?
Lee is scheduled to travel to Mexico City for a summit with President Claudia Sheinbaum.
Source: Reuters, September 21, 2026.
