Former Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba is set to travel to South Korea for a two-day visit beginning on the 7th. According to the Yomiuri Shimbun, which reported this on the 4th, the information comes from several Japanese government sources. This will be his first trip to South Korea in about six months, following his previous visit to Busan in late September of last year while serving as prime minister.
On the 8th, Ishiba will give a keynote address at the ‘Asan Plenum 2026,’ organized by the Asan Institute for Policy Studies in Seoul. As a former prime minister and current member of the House of Representatives, his visit has a semi-official, semi-private character, justified by the think tank event.
Work is being done to set up a meeting between Ishiba and President Lee Jae Myung during this visit. Both parties are currently working on aligning their calendars, and if it happens, it will mark their first encounter in about six months since the September summit in Busan last year. Ishiba met with President Lee on three occasions during his time as prime minister. Should the meeting occur, the two leaders are anticipated to emphasize the significance of shuttle diplomacy between South Korea and Japan and discuss perspectives on the security environment in Northeast Asia.
This trip has gained attention because it marks Ishiba’s initial visit to South Korea since Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi assumed her position. As a prominent moderate and realist within the Liberal Democratic Party, Ishiba has focused on maintaining stable ties with China and adopting pragmatic strategies for managing risks with neighboring nations, setting himself apart from Takaichi’s more rigid conservative stance. Experts believe this visit might be seen as a continuation of the moderate approach in South Korea-Japan diplomatic exchanges, expanding it to incorporate connections with former officials.
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