On May 20, the first day of the Asia Leadership Conference (ALC) 2026 was held in Seoul, South Korea, where Park Cheol-hee, Special Advisor to IHJ, spoke at the session titled “Advancing Korea-Japan and Trilateral Cooperation: Beyond Security to the Economy.” Organized by the Chosun Ilbo, the ALC is South Korea’s most prestigious international conference, bringing together politicians, researchers, and business leaders from around the world to discuss challenges facing the international community. This year’s conference was held under the theme “Out of Turbulence: Toward a New Balance.”

In addition to Dr. Park, this session was moderated by Hawon Lee of the Chosun Ilbo, with panelists including Koichi Hagiuda, a member of the House of Representatives, and Mark W. Lippert, Senior Advisor at the Center for Strategic and International Studies. Dr. Park and the panelists engaged in a lively discussion on the future of Japan-South Korea relations and trilateral cooperation among Japan, the United States, and South Korea.

The session focused primarily on the recent improvement in Japan-South Korea relations and cooperation in the fields of economic and energy security. Participants emphasized that the resumption of shuttle diplomacy had served as a catalyst for improving bilateral relations; that Japan and South Korea are partners who should cooperate across a wide range of areas amid an increasingly unstable international environment—including the one in China, North Korea, and the Middle East; and the importance of the two countries’ leaders building mutual trust. Reference was also made to the importance of strengthening supply chains—including those for semiconductors—and ensuring energy security in the Indo-Pacific region. The session highlighted examples of how the people of Japan, the United States, and South Korea are connected through culture and share mutual inspiration.

This session demonstrated that Japan-South Korea cooperation extends beyond security to encompass economic, energy, and social issues. It provided an opportunity to reaffirm the importance of both nations addressing common challenges together amid an increasingly unstable international landscape.