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In an interview featured in the cover story of TIME magazine, regarded as the world's most influential publication, on September 18, President Lee Jae-myung defined Korea's role in the international community as that of a "bridge." He argued that, as an ally of the United States and a country economically intertwined with China, the Korean government is uniquely positioned to foster "exchange and cooperation" in the region.

In the interview with TIME conducted on September 3, President Lee emphasized that Korea is building friendly relations with the U.S. administration and is positioned to act as a bridge for exchange and cooperation in the region. President Lee stated, "We will stand in solidarity with the United States within the supply chain and the new world order centered on America," but also explained, "We must manage our relationship with China so as not to provoke them."

President Lee Jae-myung and U.S. President Donald Trump held a summit at the White House in Washington, D.C., on the 25th of last month (local time). 2025.8.26 Yonhap News Photo by Yonhap

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President Lee believes that if Korea fails to fulfill its role as a bridge, "there is a risk that Korea could become the front line of conflict between the two blocs." TIME also noted that President Lee is "trying to position Korea as a bridge between East and West," and evaluated his actions as efforts to "reboot" Korea. However, TIME pointed out that it would not be easy for President Lee to maintain this balance, referencing the meeting of North Korean, Chinese, and Russian leaders during the Victory Day military parade in Beijing on September 3.

The intensified U.S. trade pressure since President Donald Trump took office was cited as a factor threatening Korea's bridging role. Regarding the $35 billion investment fund for the U.S., President Lee said, "If I had agreed to the U.S. demand, I would have been impeached," adding, "I requested a reasonable alternative from the U.S. negotiation team."

Russian President Vladimir Putin, Chinese President Xi Jinping, and North Korean Chairman Kim Jongun attended the large-scale military parade commemorating the 80th anniversary of Victory Day held at Tiananmen Square in Beijing, China, on the 3rd. Photo by Yonhap News Agency, Beijing Correspondent

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However, President Lee offered a positive assessment of President Trump, calling him "a very good person." President Lee said, "President Trump has led a successful life as a businessman. Although he may seem unpredictable on the surface, I believe he is very results-oriented and pragmatic."

When asked whether he would consider nominating President Trump for the Nobel Peace Prize, President Lee replied, "If there is concrete progress on the North Korean issue, President Trump would be the only one qualified to receive the Nobel Prize." Elaborating on what constitutes concrete progress, President Lee said, "We need to pursue a phased process of suspending, reducing, and ultimately dismantling nuclear activities through negotiations that partially ease or lift sanctions on North Korea."

President Lee Jae-myung is greeting Michael Sandel, a professor at Harvard University famous for his book "What Is Justice," at the Presidential Office in Yongsan, Seoul, on September 18, 2025. Photo by Presidential Office News Photographers Group

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President Lee especially emphasized that the best approach to the North Korean nuclear issue is to induce denuclearization by partially easing sanctions. Citing the U.S.-North Korea Geneva Agreed Framework as an example, President Lee said, "We should exchange partial sanctions relief for phased negotiations (freeze → reduction → denuclearization)." He added, "I believe there is a middle ground, rather than a binary choice between accepting North Korea's nuclear program or achieving complete denuclearization."

Meanwhile, President Lee, who has pledged to usher in the "KOSPI 5000 era," held a luncheon meeting at the Presidential Office in Yongsan on September 18 with heads of research centers from 16 domestic and international securities firms under the theme "Normalizing the Capital Market, Beginning a New Leap Forward," where he listened to policy improvement ideas.

Additionally, President Lee met with Michael Sandel, the Harvard University professor and author of "What Is Justice," on the afternoon of September 18 to exchange views on the rapidly changing world order.