President Lee’s first press conference underscores fast-moving diplomacy

Welcome to Within The Frame, where we bring the most pressing issues across the globe into focus. I'm Kim Mok-yeon.

Today marks President Lee Jae Myung's 30th day in office—and he didn't let it pass quietly.

Breaking from the recent practice of waiting 100 days, he held a live, town hall-style press conference, signaling a shift toward direct, high-speed governance.

He underscored Korea's military strength while laying out a North Korea strategy rooted in deterrence, diplomacy, and practical cooperation.

In the past four weeks, he's also met global leaders, de-escalated tensions on the Peninsula, and tapped his first foreign policy team—anchored by career diplomats.

In our third installment marking one month of the Lee Jae Myung presidency, we focus on his emerging foreign policy—where he's positioning Korea on the global stage, and how alliances and diplomacy may evolve.

To help us break things down, we're joined by Dr. Youngshik Bong, Visiting Professor at Yonsei University. Welcome.

Also joining us from Washington is Andrew Yeo, Senior Fellow and SK-Korea Foundation Chair at Brookings Institution's Center for East Asia Policy Studies.

(BONG) 1. Let's start with Dr. Bong. President Lee held his first press conference just 30 days in, using a town hall format—much earlier and more casual than usual. What did you make of the timing and style?

(YEO) 2. On that note, there were several questions on diplomacy and national security. What stood out most to you from those exchanges?

(BONG) 3. Looking at his early moves, President Lee spoke with President Trump, Japan's PM, and China's President all within his first week. How do those early contacts shape Korea's diplomatic posture?

(YEO) 4. And just two weeks in, he was at the G7, meeting leaders, including Japan's PM. What does this tell us about the reset in Korea-Japan ties and the return to shuttle diplomacy?

(BONG) 5. And on the U.S. front, President Lee admitted today that the ongoing tariff negotiations with Washington are "not easy" and may not wrap up by August. How should we interpret his tone? How should President Lee approach this diplomatically?

(YEO) 6. On the China front, Beijing's invited President Lee to the Victory Day parade this fall. How should Korea weigh that, given the current U.S.-China tension?

(BONG) 7. On inter-Korean relations, President Lee emphasized today that dialogue should never be off the table, even calling a total shutdown "foolish."

He also cited North Korea's quick response to South Korea halting loudspeaker broadcasts and leaflets as "beyond expectations."

What do you make of this trust-building start—and how far can it go?

(YEO) 8. On his appointments, President Lee placed diplomats like Wi Sung-lac and Cho Hyun in top security roles. What does that signal about his foreign policy approach?

(BONG) 9. And this is historic— for the first time in 64 years, a civilian—Ahn Gyu-back—is tapped for Defense Minister. What's the significance of that, especially for military reform?

(YEO) 10. Looking ahead— with pressure from the U.S., outreach from China, and uncertainty with the North, what should be the administration's top foreign policy focus right now?