The ROK–Japan summit held on January 13–14 in Nara Prefecture, Japan, marked the sixth leaders’ meeting since the inauguration of the Lee Jae MMyung administration (three under the Ishiba Cabinet and three under the Takaichi Cabinet) and President Lee’s second visit to Japan (Tokyo and Nara). Against the backdrop of prolonged Japan-China tensions, President Lee’s visits to China (January 4–7) and Japan (January 13–14) drew significant domestic and international attention. In an unusually cordial atmosphere, the two leaders sustained constructive discussions. The summit is significant in that shuttle diplomacy—resumed with President Lee’s Tokyo visit last August—has been held repeatedly at short intervals, signaling a transition from the phase of “resumption and restoration” to one of “institutionalization and stability.” The two leaders reaffirmed a shared understanding of regional and global issues and agreed to expand cooperation in the economy and trade as well as in social and cultural exchanges. Notably, they agreed to cooperate on DNA identification of remains presumed to be victims of the Josei coal mine accident, an important step in opening a humanitarian channel for cooperation in the realm of historical issues.

Three key achievements stand out. First, shuttle diplomacy has ceased to be an “exceptional event” and is becoming an “anticipated diplomatic dialogue,” indicating entry into a stabilization phase. Moreover, the emerging pattern of holding summits in regional cities, in turn, helps broaden the center of gravity of bilateral cooperation beyond central-government diplomacy between Seoul and Tokyo. This can widen the space for participation by local governments, businesses, academia, youth, and other stakeholders, deepen the societal foundations of cooperation, and serve as a buffer that strengthens the sustainability of the relationship. Second, the bilateral agenda has expanded beyond a structure overly shaped by contentious historical issues toward more comprehensive cooperation, including economic and social cooperation and responses to transnational crime.

This article is an English Summary of Asan Issue Brief (2026-07).

(‘이재명-다카이치 한일 정상회담 (2026.1.13~14) 평가 및 향후 과제: 안정 궤도에 오른 셔틀외교 발전 방안’)