Lee Jae Myung to travel to Nara on Tuesday He will depart for Japan on Tuesday, arriving for a two‑day summit scheduled Jan 13‑14 with Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi. The meeting takes place in Nara, Takaichi’s hometown, underscoring the venue’s symbolic weight. The Cheong Wa Dae announcement frames the visit as a step to deepen bilateral ties [1][2][3].

Summit agenda covers regional, global and economic issues Officials say the talks will address regional security, global challenges, and economic cooperation, as well as societal and cultural exchange. Both leaders previously discussed similar topics at the Oct 30 APEC summit in Gyeongju and during the G20 gathering in Johannesburg last November. The continuity signals a sustained dialogue across multiple international forums [1][2].

Shuttle diplomacy continues after August Tokyo visit Lee’s Nara trip follows an August visit to Tokyo where he met former Japanese premier Shigeru Ishiba, illustrating a pattern of reciprocal trips. Cheong Wa Dae describes the series of visits as “shuttle diplomacy” aimed at building future‑oriented momentum while not ignoring historical disputes. This approach seeks to balance forward‑looking cooperation with wartime‑history sensitivities [1].

Additional events include friendship ceremony and Korean diaspora outreach Beyond the summit, Lee will attend a friendship event with Takaichi on Wednesday and meet ethnic Koreans living in Japan before returning to Seoul the same day. These side activities highlight the cultural dimension of the diplomatic effort. The inclusion of diaspora engagement differentiates the Nara visit from earlier high‑level meetings [1].