President Lee Jae Myung returned to South Korea on Monday after an extensive 11-day diplomatic mission across Germany, the United States, and South America, focusing on artificial intelligence (AI) collaborations and securing critical mineral supply chains. The tour highlighted Lee’s commitment to positioning Korea as a key player in the global AI landscape, culminating in the San Francisco AI Declaration and discussions with major tech firms. In South America, agreements were reached with Brazil, Chile, and Argentina to enhance cooperation on strategic minerals, including rare earth elements and lithium. Political analysts suggest that this trip signifies a shift in national security priorities, emphasizing resource diversification to bolster Korea’s bargaining power amid global realignments. As the government prepares to implement the agreements, the effectiveness of these diplomatic efforts in addressing domestic economic challenges remains to be seen.