Ahead of the UN General Assembly, President Lee emphasized efforts to resolve tariff issues between Korea and the United States through interviews with Reuters and BBC. The president argued that if the $350 billion investment is withdrawn in the manner demanded by the United States without a currency swap arrangement, a situation similar to the 1997 financial crisis could occur, and that ensuring commercial rationality is crucial. Regarding the recent immigration enforcement incident at Hyundai Motor-LG Energy Solution factory construction site in Georgia, he acknowledged it was "harsh" treatment of Korean workers but emphasized that it would not damage the Korea-U.S. alliance. On North Korea's denuclearization, he showed willingness to accept North Korea's nuclear freeze as a temporary emergency measure, while noting that dialogue between the United States and North Korea remains unclear. Finally, regarding the Ukraine war, he condemned Russia's invasion while emphasizing the need for efforts toward peaceful coexistence.
