Summit in Seoul Formalizes Strategic Partnership Between South Korea and Brazil President Lee Jae Myung and Brazil’s Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva met at Cheong Wa Dae on Feb. 23, 2026, concluding a three‑day state visit that marked Lula’s first to South Korea since 2005 [2][4][5][6]. The leaders signed a memorandum of understanding covering trade, investment, climate, energy, space, defense, science, agriculture, education, culture and people‑to‑people exchanges [2][4][5][6]. A joint press conference and an evening state dinner followed the talks, underscoring the formalization of the new strategic partnership [2][4][5][6]. Both presidents highlighted the agreement as a deepening of bilateral ties that have existed since diplomatic relations began in 1959, with Brazil now South Korea’s largest South American trading partner [4][5][6].

Leaders Emphasize Shared Child‑Labor Background and Personal Injuries In pre‑summit posts, Lee recalled his own teenage factory work and described Lula as an “eternal comrade,” noting their common experience of child labor [2][3][4]. Lula lost a finger in an industrial accident during his early factory years, while Lee sustained a permanent arm injury while working as a young laborer; both attribute these hardships to shaping their social‑justice outlooks [1][2][3][4]. Lee praised Lula’s democratic achievements, saying his life demonstrates that democracy drives social and economic development [3]. The personal rapport built at the G7 summit in Canada (June 2025) and the G20 in South Africa (Nov 2025) reinforced their mutual empathy [2][4][5][6].

AI‑Generated Clip Highlights Brotherhood After Summit, Lula Reshares It On Feb. 24, 2026, Lee posted an 11‑second AI‑generated video on X depicting himself and Lula as young factory workers embracing before cutting to footage of their hug at Cheong Wa Dae [1]. His caption spoke of “wounded yet unscarred” brothers, linking their shared labor past to the new partnership [1]. Lula reshared the clip on his own X account on Feb. 25, amplifying the message of solidarity and publicizing the strategic partnership [1]. The AI video served as a symbolic extension of the summit’s themes of humility, resilience and brotherhood [1].

Cultural Exchanges Include First Ladies Visiting Gwangjang Market and Strengthening Ties Brazilian First Lady Rosangela Lula da Silva met South Korean First Lady Kim Hea Kyung on Saturday, and the two toured Seoul’s Gwangjang Market, examining silk for hanbok and selecting traditional Korean rings [2][5][6]. The market visit highlighted cultural exchange alongside the political agenda and was featured in multiple reports [2][5][6]. Rosangela also visited a traditional market earlier in the visit, reinforcing people‑to‑people connections [2]. These activities complemented the high‑level diplomatic talks and underscored the multifaceted nature of the bilateral relationship [2][5][6].