South Korea and Italy Forge Strategic Partnership as Leaders Highlight AI and Supply Chain Cooperation
ROME — South Korean President Lee Jae Myung on Friday attended a business roundtable in Rome aimed at deepening economic ties between South Korea and Italy, where he called the two nations "optimal partners" for cooperation in an era of technological change and supply chain restructuring.
The event, held at a hotel in Rome, came a day after President Lee met with Italian President Sergio Mattarella. During that summit, the two leaders agreed to elevate bilateral relations to a "special strategic partnership" and to explore expanded cooperation in semiconductors, artificial intelligence, and other strategic sectors, according to Yonhap News Agency.
In his opening remarks at the roundtable, Lee emphasized the complementary strengths of the two economies, stating, "With Italy being a powerhouse in basic science with creative engineering and design capabilities, while South Korea is a powerhouse in advanced manufacturing with innovative technological capabilities, the two countries are optimal partners." He also suggested that together they could build a "new industrial order" amid a rapidly changing global economy driven by deepening technological competition and supply chain shifts.
"I hope we will overcome global economic uncertainties together based on our mutually beneficial relations," Lee added, as reported by Yonhap.
The roundtable brought together business leaders from 30 companies from both countries. South Korean participants included Samsung Electronics Chairman Lee Jae-yong, Hyosung Group Chairman Cho Hyun-joon, Hyundai Motor President Sung Kim, and Naver CEO Choi Soo-yeon. Italian executives included Giorgio Marsiaj, vice president of the General Confederation of Italian Industry (Confindustria), and Benedetto Vigna, CEO of Ferrari. The discussions focused on enhancing cooperation in advanced industries, energy, infrastructure, and future-oriented sectors.
According to Yonhap, the gathering reflected the growing importance of bilateral economic collaboration, particularly in areas where both countries face similar challenges and opportunities. The report also noted that Samsung supplies displays to Ferrari, and that Stellantis — where John Elkann serves as chairman — is building a joint battery factory with Samsung SDI, illustrating existing industrial links.
When asked about growing overseas interest in South Korea's manufacturing capabilities, Samsung Electronics Chairman Lee Jae-yong responded, "We should be working harder," according to Yonhap.
The event underscored the momentum in South Korea-Italy relations, which have expanded beyond traditional trade into technology and supply chain resilience. The two governments have signaled intentions to deepen cooperation in critical minerals, advanced manufacturing, and digital infrastructure in the coming years.
No concrete agreements were announced at the roundtable itself, but both sides expressed optimism about the potential for joint projects. The move comes as many countries seek to diversify supply chains and strengthen partnerships with allies in response to global disruptions.
As the leaders concluded their engagements in Rome, attention is likely to turn to follow-up working groups and business missions to translate the strategic partnership into tangible outcomes.