SEOUL, January 19 (AJP) - South Korean President Lee Jae Myung and Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni agreed on Monday to strengthen supply chain stability and industrial ties, focusing on semiconductors and artificial intelligence.
During a summit at the presidential Blue House in Seoul, the two leaders oversaw the signing of three memorandums of understanding aimed at deepening cooperation in technology, disaster response, and cultural exchange. The meeting marked the first official visit by an Italian prime minister to South Korea in 19 years.
The centerpiece of the summit was an agreement to expand business collaboration in the semiconductor sector. Under the terms of the memorandum, Seoul and Rome committed to sharing supply chain data and linking public and private networks to foster development in AI and other advanced industries.
Lee described the partnership as a strategic fit between Italy’s scientific tradition and South Korea’s technological manufacturing base.
"If Italy's traditional strengths as a science powerhouse combine with the core DNA of South Korea as a technology powerhouse, the two countries can create significant synergy," Lee said in his opening remarks.
He noted that bilateral cooperation was already growing in aerospace and defense, adding that the potential for the relationship felt "limitless."
Meloni emphasized that despite the geographic distance, the two nations were aligned on key issues, including critical minerals and energy security.
"I have always viewed President Lee's pragmatic approach very positively and respect it," Meloni said. She expressed hope that the visit would establish a framework for regular political dialogue to address international crises.
The leaders also discussed expanding cultural and personnel exchanges. Meloni noted South Korea's growing influence in soft power, remarking that her daughter is a fan of K-pop.
Other than the technology agreements, the two governments signed a memorandum on civil protection to share policies on disaster management. A separate agreement between South Korea's Korea Heritage Service and the Italian Ministry of Culture established protocols for sharing data on heritage management and preventing the illegal trafficking of cultural properties.
Lee also thanked Italy for its historical support, specifically citing the medical units Rome dispatched during the 1950~53 Korean War.
reporter
Park Sae-jin
swatchsjp@ajunews.com
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