List of international trips made by presidents of South Korea

Last updated

Map of countries by the number of visits made by a president of South Korea, as of December 2024.

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South Korea
30 or more visits
20-29 visits
15-19 visits
10-14 visits
5-9 visits
2-4 visits
1 visit
No known visits List of international trips made by presidents of South Korea.svg
Map of countries by the number of visits made by a president of South Korea, as of December 2024.
  •   South Korea
  •   30 or more visits
  •   20–29 visits
  •   15–19 visits
  •   10–14 visits
  •   5–9 visits
  •   2–4 visits
  •   1 visit
  •   No known visits

Altogether, 12 presidents of South Korea have traveled to 73 countries or territories while in office.

Contents

Lee Myung-bak (2008–2013)

Countries visited by Lee Myung-bak during his presidency List of international presidential trips made by Lee Myung-bak.svg
Countries visited by Lee Myung-bak during his presidency

Lee Myung-bak has made presidential trips to 42 states internationally since his inauguration on 25 February 2008.

Park Geun-hye (2013–2017)

Countries visited by Park Geun-hye during her presidency List of international presidential trips made by Park Geun-hye.svg
Countries visited by Park Geun-hye during her presidency

Park Geun-hye has made 49 presidential trips to 38 states internationally since her inauguration on 25 February 2013.

Moon Jae-in (2017–2022)

Countries visited by Moon Jae-in during his presidency List of international presidential trips made by Moon Jae-in.svg
Countries visited by Moon Jae-in during his presidency

Moon Jae-in has made 32 presidential trips to 40 states internationally since his inauguration on 10 May 2017.

Yoon Suk-yeol (2022–2025)

Countries visited by Yoon Suk-yeol during his presidency List of international presidential trips made by Yoon Suk-yeol.svg
Countries visited by Yoon Suk-yeol during his presidency

Yoon Suk-yeol has made 21 presidential trips to 27 states internationally since his inauguration on 10 May 2022.

Lee Jae-myung (2025–present)

Countries visited by Lee Jae-myung during his presidency List of international presidential trips made by Lee Jae-myung.svg
Countries visited by Lee Jae-myung during his presidency

Table of destinations

RegionCountry or territory NVPresident and year of visit
(Note: column sorts by year of first visit, not by president's name.)
China
17
Kim Young-sam 1994  Kim Dae-jung 1998, 2001  Roh Moo-hyun 2003, 2006  Lee Myung-bak 2008(3), 2009, 2010, 2012  Park Geun-hye 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016  Moon Jae-in 2017, 2019
Japan
24
Syngman Rhee 1948, 1953  Chun Doo-hwan 1984  Roh Tae-woo 1990  Kim Young-sam 1994, 1995, 1997  Kim Dae-jung 1998, 2000, 2002  Roh Moo-hyun 2003, 2004  Lee Myung-bak 2008(3), 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012  Moon Jae-in 2018, 2019  Yoon Suk-yeol 2023(2)  Lee Jae-myung 2025
Mongolia
4
Kim Dae-jung 1999  Roh Moo-hyun 2006  Lee Myung-bak 2011  Park Geun-hye 2016
North Korea
5
Kim Dae-jung 2000  Roh Moo-hyun 2007  Moon Jae-in 2018(3)
Taiwan
2
Syngman Rhee 1953  Park Chung Hee 1966
Brunei
4
Roh Tae-woo 1988  Kim Dae-jung 2000  Park Geun-hye 2013  Moon Jae-in 2019
Cambodia
5
Roh Moo-hyun 2006  Lee Myung-bak 2009, 2012  Moon Jae-in 2019  Yoon Suk-yeol 2022
Indonesia
14
Chun Doo-hwan 1981  Roh Tae-woo 1988  Kim Young-sam 1994  Kim Dae-jung 2000  Roh Moo-hyun 2003, 2006  Lee Myung-bak 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012  Park Geun-hye 2013  Moon Jae-in 2017  Yoon Suk-yeol 2022, 2023
Laos
4
Roh Moo-hyun 2004  Park Geun-hye 2016  Moon Jae-in 2019  Yoon Suk-yeol 2024
Malaysia
9
Park Chung Hee 1966  Chun Doo-hwan 1981  Roh Tae-woo 1988  Kim Young-sam 1996  Kim Dae-jung 1998  Roh Moo-hyun 2005  Lee Myung-bak 2010  Park Geun-hye 2015  Moon Jae-in 2019
Myanmar
4
Chun Doo-hwan 1983  Lee Myung-bak 2012  Park Geun-hye 2014  Moon Jae-in 2019
Philippines
10
Park Chung Hee 1966  Chun Doo-hwan 1981  Kim Young-sam 1994, 1996  Kim Dae-jung 1999  Roh Moo-hyun 2005  Lee Myung-bak 2011  Park Geun-hye 2015  Moon Jae-in 2017  Yoon Suk-yeol 2024
Singapore
10
Chun Doo-hwan 1981  Kim Young-sam 1996  Kim Dae-jung 2000  Roh Moo-hyun 2007  Lee Myung-bak 2009, 2010  Park Geun-hye 2015  Moon Jae-in 2018(2)  Yoon Suk-yeol 2024
Thailand
7
Park Chung Hee 1966  Chun Doo-hwan 1981  Roh Moo-hyun 2003  Lee Myung-bak 2009(2), 2012  Moon Jae-in 2019(2)
Vietnam
11
Syngman Rhee 1958  Kim Young-sam 1996  Kim Dae-jung 1998  Roh Moo-hyun 2004, 2006  Lee Myung-bak 2009, 2010  Park Geun-hye 2013  Moon Jae-in 2017, 2018  Yoon Suk-yeol 2023
Southwest Asia
and Pacific
Australia
9
Park Chung Hee 1968 (2)  Roh Tae-woo 1988  Kim Young-sam 1994  Kim Dae-jung 1999  Roh Moo-hyun 2006  Lee Myung-bak 2009  Park Geun-hye 2014  Moon Jae-in 2021
India
6
Kim Young-sam 1996  Roh Moo-hyun 2004  Lee Myung-bak 2010  Park Geun-hye 2014  Moon Jae-in 2018  Yoon Suk-yeol 2023
New Zealand
5
Park Chung Hee 1968  Kim Dae-jung 1999  Roh Moo-hyun 2006  Lee Myung-bak 2009  Moon Jae-in 2018
Papua New Guinea
1
Moon Jae-in 2018
Canada
8
Chun Doo-hwan 1982  Roh Tae-woo 1991  Kim Young-sam 1997  Kim Dae-jung 1999  Lee Myung-bak 2010  Park Geun-hye 2014  Yoon Suk-yeol 2022  Lee Jae-myung 2025
United States
52
Syngman Rhee 1954  Park Chung Hee 1965, 1968, 1969  Chun Doo-hwan 1981, 1985  Roh Tae-woo 1988, 1989, 1990, 1991(2), 1992  Kim Young-sam 1993, 1995, 1997  Kim Dae-jung 1998, 1999, 2000, 2001  Roh Moo-hyun 2003, 2004, 2005(2), 2006  Lee Myung-bak 2008(2),2009(2), 2010, 2011(3), 2012  Park Geun-hye 2013, 2014, 2015(2), 2016  Moon Jae-in 2017(2),2018(2),2019(2),2021(2)  Yoon Suk-yeol 2022, 2023(4), 2024
Argentina
2
Kim Young-sam 1996  Moon Jae-in 2018
Brazil
6
Kim Young-sam 1996  Roh Moo-hyun 2004  Lee Myung-bak 2008, 2012  Park Geun-hye 2015  Yoon Suk-yeol 2024
Chile
4
Kim Young-sam 1996  Roh Moo-hyun 2004  Lee Myung-bak 2012  Park Geun-hye 2015
Colombia
2
Lee Myung-bak 2012  Park Geun-hye 2015
Costa Rica
1
Roh Moo-hyun 2005
Guatemala
2
Kim Young-sam 1996  Roh Moo-hyun 2007
Mexico
6
Kim Young-sam 1997  Kim Dae-jung 2002  Roh Moo-hyun 2005  Lee Myung-bak 2010, 2012  Park Geun-hye 2016
Panama
1
Lee Myung-bak 2010
Peru
4
Kim Young-sam 1996  Lee Myung-bak 2008  Park Geun-hye 2015  Yoon Suk-yeol 2024
Europe
Austria
1
Moon Jae-in 2021
Azerbaijan
1
Roh Moo-hyun 2006
Belgium
5
Chun Doo-hwan 1986  Kim Young-sam 1995  Lee Myung-bak 2010  Park Geun-hye 2013  Moon Jae-in 2018
Czech Republic
4
Kim Young-sam 1995  Park Geun-hye 2015  Moon Jae-in 2018  Yoon Suk-yeol 2024
Denmark
6
Kim Young-sam 1995  Kim Dae-jung 2002  Lee Myung-bak 2009, 2011, 2012(Greenland)  Moon Jae-in 2018
Finland
2
Roh Moo-hyun 2006  Moon Jae-in 2019
France
14
Chun Doo-hwan 1986  Roh Tae-woo 1989  Kim Young-sam 1995  Kim Dae-jung 2000, 2001  Roh Moo-hyun 2004  Lee Myung-bak 2011(2)  Park Geun-hye 2013, 2015, 2016  Moon Jae-in 2018  Yoon Suk-yeol 2023(2)
Germany [Note 1]
9
Park Chung Hee 1964  Chun Doo-hwan 1986  Roh Tae-woo 1989  Kim Young-sam 1995  Kim Dae-jung 2000  Roh Moo-hyun 2005  Lee Myung-bak 2011  Park Geun-hye 2014  Moon Jae-in 2017
Greece
1
Roh Moo-hyun 2006
Hungary
3
Roh Tae-woo 1989  Kim Dae-jung 2001  Moon Jae-in 2021
Italy
6
Kim Dae-jung 2000  Roh Moo-hyun 2007  Lee Myung-bak 2009  Park Geun-hye 2014  Moon Jae-in 2018, 2021
Lithuania
1
Yoon Suk-yeol 2023
Netherlands
3
Kim Dae-jung 2002  Park Geun-hye 2014  Yoon Suk-yeol 2023
Norway
3
Kim Dae-jung 2001  Lee Myung-bak 2012  Moon Jae-in 2019
Poland
2
Roh Moo-hyun 2004  Yoon Suk-yeol 2023
Romania
1
Roh Moo-hyun 2006
Spain
3
Roh Moo-hyun 2007  Moon Jae-in 2021  Yoon Suk-yeol 2022
Sweden
3
Kim Dae-jung 2000  Lee Myung-bak 2009  Moon Jae-in 2019
Switzerland
4
Roh Tae-woo 1989  Lee Myung-bak 2010  Park Geun-hye 2014  Yoon Suk-yeol 2023
Turkey
3
Roh Moo-hyun 2005  Lee Myung-bak 2012  Park Geun-hye 2015
Ukraine
1
Yoon Suk-yeol 2023
United Kingdom
11
Chun Doo-hwan 1986  Roh Tae-woo 1989  Kim Young-sam 1995  Kim Dae-jung 1998  Roh Moo-hyun 2004  Lee Myung-bak 2009  Park Geun-hye 2013  Moon Jae-in 2021(2)  Yoon Suk-yeol 2022, 2023
Vatican City
6
Kim Dae-jung 2000  Roh Moo-hyun 2007  Lee Myung-bak 2009  Park Geun-hye 2014  Moon Jae-in 2018, 2021
Congo
1
Lee Myung-bak 2011
Ethiopia
2
Lee Myung-bak 2011  Park Geun-hye 2016
Gabon
1
Chun Doo-hwan 1982
Kenya
2
Chun Doo-hwan 1982  Park Geun-hye 2016
Nigeria
2
Chun Doo-hwan 1982  Roh Moo-hyun 2006
Senegal
1
Chun Doo-hwan 1982
South Africa
1
Lee Myung-bak 2011
Uganda
1
Park Geun-hye 2016
Middle East
and North Africa
Algeria
1
Roh Moo-hyun 2006
Egypt
2
Roh Moo-hyun 2006  Moon Jae-in 2022
Iran
1
Park Geun-hye 2016
Iraq
1
Roh Moo-hyun 2004
Kuwait
2
Choi Kyu-hah 1980  Park Geun-hye 2015
Qatar
3
Lee Myung-bak 2012  Park Geun-hye 2015  Yoon Suk-yeol 2023
Saudi Arabia
6
Choi Kyu-hah 1980  Roh Moo-hyun 2007  Lee Myung-bak 2012  Park Geun-hye 2015  Moon Jae-in 2022  Yoon Suk-yeol 2023
United Arab Emirates
10
Roh Moo-hyun 2006  Lee Myung-bak 2009, 2011, 2012(2)  Park Geun-hye 2014, 2015  Moon Jae-in 2018, 2022  Yoon Suk-yeol 2023
Russia
and Central Asia
Kazakhstan
7
Roh Moo-hyun 2004  Lee Myung-bak 2009, 2011, 2012  Park Geun-hye 2014  Moon Jae-in 2019  Yoon Suk-yeol 2024
Russia
13
Roh Tae-woo 1990  Kim Young-sam 1994  Kim Dae-jung 1999  Roh Moo-hyun 2004, 2005  Lee Myung-bak 2008, 2010, 2011, 2012  Park Geun-hye 2013, 2016  Moon Jae-in 2017, 2018
Turkmenistan
3
Park Geun-hye 2014  Moon Jae-in 2019  Yoon Suk-yeol 2024
Uzbekistan
6
Roh Moo-hyun 2005  Lee Myung-bak 2009, 2011  Park Geun-hye 2014  Moon Jae-in 2019  Yoon Suk-yeol 2024
   Source:  [1] [2]

Notes

  1. All subsequent visits by South Korean presidents have been made to the Federal Republic of Germany, which was known colloquially as "West Germany" from 1949 to 1990 during the post World War II West–East division of Germany. No incumbent South Korean president ever visited the German Democratic Republic ("East Germany") during its existence in the same time frame.

See also

References

  1. "대통령 해외순방". pa.go.kr. Sejong: Presidential Archives, Ministry of the Interior and Safety, Republic of Korea. Retrieved June 27, 2022.
  2. "해외순방·외빈방한". Ministry of Foreign Affairs . Seoul: Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Republic of Korea. Retrieved June 27, 2022.