South Korea's President Lee pursues critical minerals and energy deals across South America

President Lee Jae-myung of South Korea is conducting a diplomatic tour of South America focused on securing critical minerals and energy supply chain partnerships, according to Arirang News reporting. The tour could mark a strategic shift in Seoul's economic diplomacy toward resource-rich nations in the Global South, per a scholar featured in the Arirang News coverage. South Korea is heavily dependent on imports of rare earths and energy resources and is seeking to diversify supply chains, according to the same analysis. The coverage also notes broader competition among major economies—including the US and China—for access to Latin America's mineral wealth and energy reserves.