South Korea's President Lee Jae Myung is set to meet Chinese leader Xi Jinping in a strategic move to mend relations and navigate the complex geopolitical landscape. This summit, their second since November, carries significant weight as Lee seeks to reset ties with China, South Korea's largest trading partner. But here's where it gets controversial: While regional security and Beijing's unofficial ban on Korean pop culture are on the agenda, experts suggest that Lee's primary focus is on securing assurances from China that it won't weaponize its economic relationship in the face of political tensions in the region. The visit to Beijing is particularly notable given the ongoing diplomatic row between China and Japan over Taiwan, which has put South Korea in an awkward position. Beijing's rhetoric against Japan has intensified, and Lee's visit is seen as a significant move, especially since South Korea is also an ally of the US, which supports Taiwan and supplies arms for its defense. Lee's remarks before Korean residents in Beijing highlight his intention to 'serve as a new starting point to fill in the gaps in Korea-China relations, restore them to normal, and upgrade them to a new level.' This visit marks the first by a South Korean leader since 2019, when the relationship soured under the predecessor of Lee, who was very critical of China. On the other hand, Xi's eagerness to meet Lee signals the pressure he faces in finding a regional ally, according to Park Seung-chan, a professor of China studies. China's demand, as Park suggests, is clear: side with China and denounce Japan. Beijing has been leveraging their shared history of fighting against Japan during the 20th Century, and Lee is expected to hold a memorial service in Shanghai for activists who fought for Korea's independence from Japan. While Korea is 'still showing all its deference towards China,' it also aims to 'strengthen its relationships with both Japan and China.' Seoul's diplomatic tightrope walk between Beijing and Tokyo continues, with Lee reportedly planning to visit Japan later this month to meet with Prime Minister Takaichi. South Korea's national security director, Wi Sung-lac, has affirmed the country's respect for the One China policy, acknowledging Beijing as the sole Chinese government. Security on the Korean Peninsula will also be part of the discussions with China, Wi noted. Lee has engaged North Korea diplomatically, but progress has been limited. He seeks Chinese cooperation in pressuring North Korea's Kim Jong Un to give up his nuclear weapons, as Beijing is the dictator's biggest supporter, economically and diplomatically, aside from Russia. However, the extent to which Lee can push China on North Korea remains uncertain, given Xi's pledge to strengthen Beijing's 'traditional friendship' with Pyongyang in September. The relationship between Seoul and Beijing is not without its challenges, including China's unofficial restrictions on South Korean music and dramas, which have been in place for a decade. K-pop and K-dramas are either unavailable or difficult to access on Chinese media platforms. While China has never acknowledged a ban on Korean artists, it is believed to be a protest against South Korea's decision to deploy a US anti-missile system in 2016, which China views as a threat to its military operations in the region. Persuading Beijing to lift these restrictions is said to be high on Lee's agenda, as China is a massive market for Korean entertainment, which is already a global success. Lee would also seek to halt China's construction of maritime structures in the waters between the two countries, which have sparked security concerns in Seoul. Beijing claims the structures are fish-farming equipment, but their presence has raised security concerns in South Korea.
