PM, Japan's ruling party policy chief discuss development of bilateral ties

▲ Prime Minister Kim Min-seok (R) shakes hands with Takayuki Kobayashi, chairperson of the Policy Research Council of Japan's Liberal Democratic Party, at his office in Seoul on Jan. 8, 2026, in this photo provided by his office. (PHOTO NOT FOR SALE) (Yonhap)

PM-Japan lawmaker

PM, Japan's ruling party policy chief discuss development of bilateral ties

SEOUL, Jan. 8 (Yonhap) -- Prime Minister Kim Min-seok met with the policy chief of Japan's ruling party Thursday and discussed ways to develop bilateral ties, especially among the countries' youths, his office said.

Kim noted that the visit by Takayuki Kobayashi, chairperson of the Liberal Democratic Party's Policy Research Council, takes on additional importance ahead of President Lee Jae Myung's planned visit to Japan later this month and called for strengthening cooperation where possible, his office said in a press release.

Kim conveyed his particular interest in economic and youth cooperation between the two countries, saying he hopes Kobayashi will help promote exchanges between their young people as a leading rising politician of Japan.

Kobayashi expressed his agreement and promised to play a part in expanding exchanges between the two countries' young people, saying the popularity of South Korean cultural content among the Japanese youth is palpable.

He also conveyed Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi's good feelings toward South Korea and called for managing "difficult issues" between the neighbors to stabilize their relations.

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