Approximately 20 minutes of conversation… "Korea-U.S. alliance must meet more frequently and strengthen."

President Lee Jae-myung had his first phone call with U.S. President Donald Trump on the night of the 6th, discussing current issues and cooperation directions between the two countries.

This call, which took place just two days after President Lee's election victory, served as an opportunity to reaffirm the close diplomatic relationship between Korea and the United States.

Presidential spokesperson Kang Yoo-jeong stated in a written briefing, "During the call, which lasted about 20 minutes starting at 10 PM, President Trump first congratulated President Lee on his victory, and President Lee expressed his gratitude while emphasizing the importance of the Korea-U.S. alliance."

Both leaders agreed on the necessity of swiftly reaching an agreement regarding trade issues and decided to advance practical negotiations in a direction satisfactory to both countries.

Spokesperson Kang explained, "The two leaders agreed to encourage visible results at the practical level."

"In response to the invitation to visit the U.S… Promotion of a face-to-face meeting in the near future."

The discussion also covered plans for future summits. President Trump formally invited President Lee to visit the U.S., to which President Lee replied, "As Korea and the U.S. are special allies, it is important to meet frequently and discuss matters."

Spokesperson Kang reported, "The two leaders agreed to meet directly as soon as possible, taking advantage of multilateral meetings or bilateral visits, to continue deeper discussions."

Overall, the call proceeded in a friendly and informal atmosphere, with both leaders sharing experiences and behind-the-scenes stories from their respective election processes.

"An episode about a Trump hat gift… promises to play golf together."

In addition to political matters, there were moments of personal camaraderie shared.

Spokesperson Kang noted, "The two leaders introduced each other's golf skills and agreed to play rounds together as time permits." President Lee recounted the story of receiving a 'Trump hat' personally signed by President Trump, to which President Trump showed great interest, expressing, "I look forward to meeting the renowned President Lee in person soon."

Spokesperson Kang evaluated the call, stating, "Not only did they directly discuss major issues in the Korea-U.S. relationship at the presidential level, but it also became a meaningful starting point for building personal trust and friendship."

Meanwhile, the details of the first phone calls between past presidents and U.S. presidents are as follows:

Former President Yoon Suk-yeol spoke with President Joe Biden for about 20 minutes on March 10, 2022, while former President Moon Jae-in had a conversation lasting about 30 minutes with then-President Trump on his inauguration day. Former President Park Geun-hye also called then-President Barack Obama for about 11 minutes two days after her election.