Xi’s Visit, Lee’s Test: A Leader Under Pressure From All Sides

Chinese President Xi Jinping’s state visit to Seoul was less a diplomatic triumph and more a severe test of President Lee Jae Myung’s leadership. The South Korean leader found himself under pressure from every conceivable direction: his public, his enemies, and his powerful allies.
The pressure from his own public was audible. Hundreds of protesters rallied in Seoul against Chinese influence, creating a tense atmosphere for the summit. This domestic dissent is a direct challenge to Lee’s foreign policy, which has prioritized engagement with Beijing.
The pressure from his northern enemy was swift and harsh. Lee’s key diplomatic goal for the summit—to get Xi’s help in restarting dialogue with North Korea—was met with a public and scornful rejection. Pyongyang’s “pipe dream” comment was a direct personal and political blow to Lee.
The pressure from his “friends” was just as intense. The summit followed a visit by U.S. President Trump, forcing Lee into the role of mediator. He had to raise the U.S. THAAD missile system dispute with Xi, a topic that pits his security ally against his main economic partner.
While Lee was being tested, China was concluding business. President Xi’s team secured seven new economic agreements, including a currency swap, and Chinese state media broadcast a message of success. Xi’s call for “mutual respect” was the calm statement of a leader not facing the same multi-front crisis as his host.