History Made in Manila: 5 Meanings of the Lee-Marcos First Summit After Korea-Philippines FTA Enactment for ASEAN Maritime Power
President Lee Jae-myung held the first summit with President Marcos at Malacañang Palace in Manila on March 3, following the Korea-Philippines FTA's entry into force (December 31, 2024). Amid the 77th anniversary of bilateral ties, with the Philippines as the 2026 ASEAN Chair and amid South China Sea tensions, the two leaders discussed defense, nuclear energy, AI, and maritime security cooperation — a pivotal diplomatic move to advance Korea's Indo-Pacific strategy.