Korea confirmed as host of 2028 G20 summit as Lee calls for ‘predictable’ trading order

President Lee Jae Myung, front row center, poses for a photo with leaders of the Group of 20 and international organizations at the Nasrec Expo Centre in Johannesburg, South Africa, on Nov. 22. [JOINT PRESS CORPS]

Korea has been formally confirmed as the host of the 2028 Group of 20 (G20) Leaders’ Summit, according to the leaders’ declaration adopted Saturday at the summit in Johannesburg, South Africa.
 
“We commit to working together under the United States’ Presidency in 2026 and meeting again in the United Kingdom in 2027 and in the Republic of Korea in 2028,” the leaders stated in the final section of the G20 South Africa Summit Leaders’ Declaration.
 
The event will mark the first G20 summit held in Korea since the 2010 Seoul Summit.
 
The presidential office welcomed the decision, saying Korea’s assumption of the G20 presidency, following its term as president of the UN Security Council in the first year of the administration and the successful hosting of APEC, “reconfirms our elevated status and demonstrates our determination to lead global solidarity and cooperation.”
 
G20 leaders adopted the declaration on the opening day of the summit, despite complications ahead of the meeting stemming from tensions between this year’s host, South Africa, and the United States.
 
Washington had opposed adopting any document that presumed prior agreement without its consent, saying it could not endorse such a text. The United States ultimately did not participate in the summit.
 
Even so, South Africa, as chair, proceeded with adoption on day one — an unusually early move, given that the declaration is usually endorsed on the closing day. 
 
U.S. President Donald Trump has argued that multilateral organizations do little to improve people’s daily lives, favoring instead bilateral deals struck directly between two countries. The declaration’s language — highlighting climate urgency, renewable-energy goals and developing-country debt burdens — touched on precisely the themes the Trump administration has long resisted.  
  
“We reiterate our commitment to the G20 as the premier forum for international economic cooperation and its continued operation in the spirit of multilateralism, on the basis of consensus, with all members participating on an equal footing in all its events, including Summits, in accordance with international obligations,” the statement said.
 
With the declaration containing numerous issues Washington opposes, Korea ultimately backed the adoption in line with its consistent support for multilateral diplomacy.
 
“Under any circumstances, we intend to play our role and make contributions on the existing international multilateral diplomatic stage,” National Security Adviser Wi Sung-lac said during a briefing in Cairo on Thursday.
 
President Lee Jae Myung reaffirmed multilateral cooperation during the opening day’s Session 1, which addressed inclusive and sustainable economic growth.
 

President Lee Jae Myung attends a session of the Group of 20 summit at the Nasrec Expo Centre in Johannesburg, South Africa, on Nov. 22. [JOINT PRESS CORPS]

“We must establish a predictable trading and investment environment to enhance growth potential,” Lee said, adding, “The revitalization of the World Trade Organization (WTO) serves the interests of all nations.”
 
His reference to a “predictable” trade and investment environment came roughly one week after Korea and the United States completed their joint fact sheet on tariff negotiations. Those talks began in April after President Trump abruptly raised reciprocal tariffs on Korea to 25 percent, creating what Seoul described as an “unpredictable” trade environment.
 
Lee also said, “The Republic of Korea will make every effort to secure the formal incorporation of the Investment Facilitation for Development Agreement — the initiative that Korea has led and advanced –– as an official WTO instrument at the forthcoming Ministerial Conference.” The Republic of Korea is the official name for South Korea.
 
Lee further emphasized the importance of development cooperation.
 
“We must elevate the effectiveness of our development cooperation to accelerate growth in the developing countries,” he said. “Having led the adoption of the Multilateral Development Banks [MDB] Roadmap Monitoring and Reporting Framework, the Republic of Korea remains committed to actively participating in ongoing MDB reform efforts.”
 
The MDB reform road map includes measures to enhance transparency, strengthen financial safety nets and maximize development outcomes for low-income countries. Trump had argued that multilateral institutions such as MDBs were inefficient relative to the U.S. financial contributions they received and pushed to reduce funding. 
 
Lee, however, made clear that “the Republic of Korea will work closely with member states to ensure that developing countries enjoy greater benefits.”
 
The administration has reiterated its intention to continue supporting multilateralism in global affairs.
 
During Session 2, which focused on the climate crisis, Lee again underscored the importance of international cooperation. 
 
“The international community must continuously strengthen its efforts to address the climate crisis,” he said. “The Republic of Korea has reaffirmed its commitment by establishing a 2035 Nationally Determined Contribution and mid- to long-term Climate-Resilient Development Pathways.”
 
Korea, he said, “will stand as a responsible partner in the international community’s shared journey to combat climate change.”
 
Lee is expected to outline his vision for international cooperation in the age of AI during Session 3, themed “A Fair and Just Future for All,” on the second and final day of the G20 summit on Sunday. 
 
Lee plans to emphasize the need for global collaboration on technological innovation and AI transformation and is expected to reference the “Global AI Basic Society” framework, which Korea, as the recently concluded Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) chair, helped forge consensus on.
 

President Lee Jae Myung, right, and German Chancellor Friedrich Merz speak during their summit held on the sidelines of the Group of 20 summit in Johannesburg, South Africa, on Nov. 22. [JOINT PRESS CORPS]

On the sidelines of the G20 on Saturday, Lee held bilateral summits with the leaders of France and Germany, discussing security, AI, nuclear power and energy cooperation.
 
During the meeting, German Chancellor Friedrich Merz unexpectedly asked about Korea’s position on China. Lee did not answer directly. 
 
Instead, he noted that Germany underwent national division, a reality Korea continues to face, and said Seoul hopes to learn from Germany’s experience of overcoming it and achieving reunification.  He asked the German chancellor to share any “secret know-how,” to which Merz replied that there wasn’t any.
 
In his first summit meeting with French President Emmanuel Macron since taking office, Lee noted that next year marks the 140th anniversary of Korea–France diplomatic ties, extending an invitation for Macron to visit France “as a state guest.”
 

President Lee Jae Myung, right, and French President Emmanuel Macron hold talks on the sidelines of the Group of 20 summit in Johannesburg, South Africa, on Nov. 22. [JOINT PRESS CORPS]

Responding to the invitation, Macron said France would “prepare” for a visit to Korea next year in celebration of the 140th anniversary. 
 
“Beyond the anniversary, we have many issues to discuss,” he added, noting that the two countries can continue cooperation in security, quantum technology, AI, space, nuclear energy and renewable energy.

BY SEO JI-EUN [[email protected]]