Outgoing Japanese PM to 'hold talks with Lee' in Busan late this month

Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba holds a press conference to announce his resignation in Tokyo, Japan on Sept. 7, 2025. Reuters-Yonhap

SEOUL, September 19 (AJP) - Japan's outgoing Prime Minister Shigeru Ishida is considering a visit to South Korea to meet with President Lee Jae Myung later this month, according to multiple Japanese media outlets.

Ishiba is expected to visit the southern port city of Busan from Sept. 30 to Oct. 1 for talks with Lee.

The Japanese leader announced his intention to step down earlier this month, after less than a year in office, as he succumbed to mounting pressure from the ruling Liberal Democratic Party to take responsibility for a heavy election defeat in July and falling approval ratings.

For his final overseas trip before leaving office, Ishiba decided to visit South Korea as part of shuttle diplomacy, in which the leaders of the two neighboring countries make regular reciprocal visits.

Busan was reportedly proposed as a venue for talks after Lee suggested holding future meetings in provincial areas rather than Seoul to promote regional development during his summit with Ishiba in Tokyo late last month.

AJP