SEOUL: US President Joe Biden is expected to visit Seoul from May 20-22 for his first-ever meeting with South Korean President Yoon Suk-yeol, source said on Thursday.
Biden is largely likely to travel to South Korea before or after attending a Quadrilateral Security Dialogue meet in Japan on May 24, as per reports. During conversations between officials in Seoul and Washington, May 20-22 emerged as the most likely dates for his visit, according to sources. "I believe the visit is being planned with the goal of reinforcing the alliance connection with South Korea," one source said.
Because Yoon will have shifted the presidential office out of Cheong Wa Dae and into what is now the Defence Ministry building, details such as the time Biden will arrive in Seoul and the summit site are still being ironed out.
This weekend, a US advance team is set to arrive in Seoul to look at potential venues. The MND Convention, a building used for weddings and banquets adjacent to the Defence Ministry, and the nearby National Museum of Korea are both potential summit sites.
Chang Je-won, Yoon's chief of staff, said that the two countries are discussing the dates of Biden's visit. "We're not ready to make any announcements just yet. There hasn't been a decision made yet "He told reporters.
The meeting is expected to be the first-ever between South Korea and the United States following the inauguration of a South Korean president.
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