South Korea's Lee Jae-myung outlines a bridged approach to U.S. and China in TIME interview

Seoul — South Korean President Lee Jae-myung told TIME in an exclusive interview that Seoul's foreign policy no longer hinges on a binary bargain: security anchored in the United States and economic ties tied to China. He said Seoul aims to play a constructive bridging role as great-power competition reshapes the region. The TIME conversation was conducted at the Yongsan Presidential Office and published with TIME's cover story after Lee's August 25 meeting with U.S. President Donald Trump in the Oval Office, during which gifts were exchanged, including MAGA hats, a model boat, and a customized golf putter engraved with Trump's name. Lee recalled an awkward moment when Trump floated the idea that South Korea might hand over land hosting U.S. military bases; Lee says the remark was almost certainly a joke, noting that ownership would require taxes Korea cannot waive.

Lee said the traditional equation of security reliance on the United States and economic ties to China is over. He said Tokyo was his first foreign visit on the way to Washington and argued that the strategic environment has changed so completely that South Korea cannot go back to old formulas. He described Korea as a potential bridge between Washington and Beijing and stressed that while the alliance with the United States reflects shared democratic and market values, Korea must manage its relationship with China at a practical level with adequate balance. He urged the Western world to understand this balancing act as Moscow's era of superpower competition evolves.

On North Korea, Lee urged measured engagement aimed at stopping nuclear and missile programs in exchange for some sanctions relief. He questioned whether pressuring North Korea alone would compel any change and argued for a middle ground between tolerating a nuclear arsenal and demanding complete denuclearization. He noted that Pyongyang's economic situation has shifted since Russia's 2022 invasion of Ukraine, with North Korea estimated to have benefited from arms sales to Russia and from other revenue streams as it dispatched thousands of troops to support Moscow. Despite the challenges, he said progress would require distinguishing short-, mid-, and long-term goals, starting with halting programs, then pursuing disarmament, and eventually denuclearization.

Lee also said he believes a personal rapport with Trump is possible despite their divergent worldviews. He cited their unlikely upbringings as a common ground — Trump from a life of privilege, Lee from a working-class background — and described both as determined to leave a legacy. He said Trump is a performance-oriented and pragmatic leader who would not want to appear to lose, a dynamic that helped them connect beyond initial skepticism.

National reconciliation remains a priority for Lee, who has faced criticism for pardoning allies linked to past political and legal controversies. He acknowledged public opinion would be divided on the pardons but framed them as necessary steps to heal a divided society and to reset politics. He described the divided landscape as a condition that must be changed, even if his actions drew fire from rival factions.

Lee highlighted the ongoing Korean Wave, saying Korea's cultural rise can reinforce its economic power. He noted that K-culture encompasses music, entertainment, fashion, and film, and argued that Korea's inclusive social fabric helps its soft power to grow. He cited a long view of culture as a national strength and said Seoul hopes to align Korea's cultural industries with its industrial sectors to benefit the economy and project influence abroad.

Taken together, the interview depicts a shift in Seoul's strategy: a willingness to flex its diplomacy to balance security assurances with economic integration and cultural diplomacy, while pursuing phased diplomacy with North Korea. As Washington and Beijing recalibrate their own relationship, Lee's approach positions South Korea as a proactive broker in East Asia's new era of great power competition. The interview was conducted ahead of a pivotal period in regional politics and illustrates how Seoul seeks to shape the terms of its alliance and its own international standing in a rapidly evolving World.