The president landed at Rome's Leonardo da Vinci International Airport, where he was escorted by two fighter jets as a courtesy for his state visit.
Attending the airport welcome ceremony were Italian Deputy Foreign Minister Marina Sereni, Bruno Antonio Pasquino, the Italian Chief of Protocol, and Emilia Gatto, the Italian Ambassador to South Korea.
From South Korea, Ambassador to Italy Kim Jun-goo and his wife, along with Ambassador to the Holy See Shin Hyung-sik and his wife, welcomed the president and first lady.
President Lee is on a state visit to Italy at the invitation of President Sergio Mattarella, which will last until June 13.
During his visit, he will hold a series of meetings with President Mattarella and Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, as well as meet with the Speaker of the Chamber of Deputies and lay a wreath at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier, seeking ways to enhance bilateral relations.
On June 14-15, he will visit the Vatican to meet with Pope Leo XIII and the Secretary of State of the Holy See.
He will also attend a special mass for peace and solidarity, where he plans to discuss global peace and the establishment of peace on the Korean Peninsula with the pope.
The following day, he will hold a summit with Prime Minister Meloni and participate in a memorandum of understanding (MOU) signing ceremony.
In conjunction with President Lee's visit, a Korea-Italy Business Roundtable will be held locally to promote business exchanges between the two countries.
Additionally, following the customary state visit protocol, President Lee will visit Florence to discuss ways to strengthen cultural cooperation between the two sides.
* This article has been translated by AI.
Copyright ⓒ Aju Press All rights reserved.