According to South Korea’s presidential office, Lee Jae Myung and Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni held summit talks on Monday, January 19, 2026, during which they decided to expand collaboration in areas including artificial intelligence, aerospace, AI chips and critical minerals.
As reported by Reuters, Meloni is on an official visit to South Korea as part of a broader Asian tour.
A statement from the Blue House said South Korea, a global leader in semiconductors, and Italy signed a memorandum of understanding on cooperation in the chip industry, including technologies linked to artificial intelligence.
The statement added that both leaders agreed to intensify joint efforts to build resilient and reliable supply chains for critical minerals, an area of growing strategic importance.
Lee and Meloni also discussed cooperation in joint research projects and academic exchanges, as well as boosting collaboration in tourism and cultural sectors. They reaffirmed their shared commitment to the denuclearisation of the Korean Peninsula.
Italy is among South Korea’s four largest trading partners within the European Union, according to the Blue House.
The visit marks Meloni’s first state visit to South Korea as Italian prime minister and the first by an Italian leader to the country in 19 years. Meloni is also visiting Japan and Oman during her Asian tour.
The Italian prime minister also expressed hope that President Lee would pay a state visit to Italy later this year, the statement said.
