Lee Jae Myung’s Japan Summit Deepens Ties While Yoon Trial Intensifies Domestic Turmoil
Updated (5 articles)
Lee lands in Nara to launch two‑day summit with Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi President Lee Jae Myung touched down in Nara on 13 January 2026, beginning a scheduled two‑day diplomatic exchange aimed at stabilizing Korea‑Japan relations amid regional tensions [3]. The itinerary includes bilateral talks on security, trade, and coordination on China‑related issues, with Lee staying in Takaichi’s home prefecture to maintain momentum [3]. Both leaders framed the visit as “shuttle diplomacy” intended to build on recent cultural and economic engagements [3].
Lee and Takaichi tour historic Horyu‑ji Temple as diplomatic showcase On 14 January 2026, the pair visited Horyu‑ji, one of the world’s oldest wooden structures, marking a rare joint sightseeing moment that underscored cultural diplomacy [2]. The tour was presented as a gesture of goodwill, reinforcing shared heritage and signaling a willingness to deepen people‑to‑people ties [2]. Officials highlighted the visit as part of a broader effort to move beyond historical disputes toward practical cooperation [2].
Lee thanks Korean diaspora in Japan and apologizes for past espionage accusations Also on 14 January, Lee met ethnic Koreans in Nara, praising their “beacon‑lighting” during the illegal martial‑law crisis sparked by former President Yoon Suk Yeol and offering a formal apology for historic false spy accusations [1]. He emphasized that the diaspora’s support helped safeguard South Korean democracy and urged remembrance of that painful chapter [1]. The meeting was positioned as a cornerstone of the two‑day mission to bolster Korea‑Japan relations and strengthen overseas community bonds [1].
Domestic upheaval continues: Yoon trial, death‑penalty push, and political raids While Lee was in Japan, Seoul’s courts held the final hearing of former President Yoon Suk Yeol’s insurrection trial on 9 January 2026, concluding the legal process that began after his December 2024 martial‑law declaration [4]. On 14 January, special counsel Cho Eun‑suk’s team petitioned the Seoul Central District Court for the death penalty, labeling Yoon the “ringleader” of the attempted coup [2]. Simultaneously, police raided Democratic Party lawmaker Kim Byung‑kee’s residences and offices in a bribery probe, and analysts noted lingering uncertainty in the Korea‑U.S. alliance under the new Trump administration, even as government data reported a 0.7 % rise in employment to 28.77 million jobs in 2025 [2].
Sources
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1.
Yonhap: Lee Jae Myung Holds Meeting with Ethnic Koreans in Japan During Two‑Day Visit – Details Lee’s Nara meeting with the Korean diaspora, his gratitude for their democratic support, and an apology for historic espionage accusations .
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2.
Yonhap: Korea news roundup: Temple visit, court case, raids, alliance outlook, and jobs data – Covers Lee and Takaichi’s Horyu‑ji Temple visit, the death‑penalty request against Yoon, a police raid on lawmaker Kim Byung‑kee, analysis of the Korea‑U.S. alliance, and 2025 employment statistics .
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3.
Yonhap: Lee Jae Myung travels to Japan for summit as Seoul court hearing and other major stories unfold – Reports Lee’s arrival in Nara, the summit agenda, the final Yoon hearing, North Korea crypto theft claims, a bus driver strike, won depreciation, and declining elementary enrollment .
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4.
Yonhap: Ex‑President Yoon's final insurrection hearing dominates day as Korea advances talks on enrichment and other developments – Describes the concluding Yoon hearing, formation of a Korean inter‑agency team for U.S. uranium‑enrichment talks, announcement of Lee’s upcoming Nara summit, a defamation complaint over comfort‑women issues, and a memorial for actor Ahn Sung‑ki .
Timeline
Mar 2023 – Tokyo District Court orders the dissolution of the Unification Church after investigations link the group to political funding of Japan’s Liberal Democratic Party (source [5]).
Dec 2024 – Former President Yoon Suk Yeol declares martial law, a move later indicted as an insurrection that fuels ongoing court proceedings (source [2]).
Dec 3, 2025 – President Lee Jae Myung tells his cabinet, “we must uphold the constitutional separation of politics and religion,” citing systematic interference by a religious group (source [5]).
Dec 3, 2025 – Lee instructs the justice minister to explore measures against political interference by religious groups, referencing Japan’s 2023 church dissolution (source [5]).
Dec 3, 2025 – Representative Kweon Seong‑dong and Unification Church leader Han Hak‑ja face bribery charges and are detained during hearings (source [5]).
Dec 3, 2025 – Democratic Party of Korea leader Jung Chung‑rae proposes a law that could allow dissolution of political parties, sparking debate over freedom of expression (source [5]).
Jan 9, 2026 – Former President Yoon attends the final insurrection hearing at Seoul Central District Court, concluding the trial that began after his December 2024 martial‑law declaration (source [4]).
Jan 9, 2026 – South Korea forms an inter‑agency team to coordinate upcoming U.S. talks on civilian uranium enrichment and spent‑fuel reprocessing (source [4]).
Jan 9, 2026 – President Lee announces his two‑day summit in Nara, Japan, with Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi to deepen bilateral ties (source [4]).
Jan 9, 2026 – Seoul’s education chief files a police complaint seeking punishment for a far‑right group that defamed comfort‑women victims and vandalized memorial statues (source [4]).
Jan 9, 2026 – A memorial Mass for actor Ahn Sung‑ki is held at Myeongdong Cathedral, led by Jung Woo‑sung and Lee Jung‑jae (source [4]).
Jan 13, 2026 – President Lee lands in Nara for the summit, staying in Prime Minister Takaichi’s home prefecture for two days (source [3]).
Jan 13, 2026 – Seoul Central District Court holds the final hearing in Yoon’s insurrection trial after a brief suspension, focusing on potential penalties (source [3]).
Jan 13, 2026 – U.N. briefing quotes U.S. official Jonathan Fritz: “North Korea probably stole more than US$2 billion in cryptocurrency last year,” highlighting sanctions‑evasion concerns (source [3]).
Jan 13, 2026 – Seoul’s intracity bus drivers launch an indefinite strike after wage talks collapse, suspending all bus services (source [3]).
Jan 13, 2026 – The Korean won slides toward a multiyear low, opening at 1,468.5 per dollar and reaching 1,472.45, pressured by overseas investment outflows (source [3]).
Jan 13, 2026 – Education authorities project 298,178 first‑grade entrants for 2026, the first time elementary enrollment falls below 300,000 due to a persistently low birth rate (source [3]).
Jan 14, 2026 – President Lee and Prime Minister Takaichi tour Horyu‑ji Temple, one of the world’s oldest wooden structures, underscoring cultural diplomacy (source [2]).
Jan 14, 2026 – Special counsel Cho Eun‑suk’s team petitions the court for the death penalty against former President Yoon, calling him “the insurrection’s ringleader” (source [2]).
Jan 14, 2026 – Police raid Democratic Party lawmaker Kim Byung‑kee’s residence and offices in six locations as part of a bribery investigation (source [2]).
Jan 14, 2026 – Government data show South Korea added 193,000 jobs in 2025, raising total employment to 28.77 million, a 0.7 % year‑on‑year increase (source [2]).
Jan 14, 2026 – President Lee meets ethnic Koreans in Nara, thanking them for “lighting beacons to protect the Republic of Korea’s democracy” during the illegal martial‑law crisis (source [1]).
Jan 14, 2026 – Lee apologizes to the diaspora for past false espionage accusations, stating “this painful history must not be forgotten” (source [1]).
Jan 14, 2026 – Lee says the two‑day mission “aims to seek deeper relations with Tokyo and engage Korean communities abroad,” reinforcing bilateral ties (source [1]).
All related articles (5 articles)
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Yonhap: Lee Jae Myung Holds Meeting with Ethnic Koreans in Japan During Two-Day Visit
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Yonhap: Korea news roundup: Temple visit, court case, raids, alliance outlook, and jobs data
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Yonhap: Lee Jae Myung travels to Japan for summit as Seoul court hearing and other major stories unfold
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Yonhap: Ex-President Yoon's final insurrection hearing dominates day as Korea advances talks on enrichment and other developments
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