Lee Jae Myung’s ‘pacemaker’ strategy tests South Korea’s leverage with Trump



Analysis Lee Jae Myung’s ‘pacemaker’ strategy tests South Korea’s leverage with Trump South Korea seeks influence over renewed US-North Korea diplomacy as Pyongyang shuts Seoul out of direct talks Sooyoung OhOctober 2, 2026 SHARE COPY LINK FACEBOOK X LINKEDIN MASTODON ROK President Lee Jae Myung meets with U.S. President Donald Trump during the sidelines of the 81st U.N. General Assembly, Sept. 23, 2026 \| Image: Blue House President Lee Jae Myung’s effort to cast South Korea as Donald Trump’s “pacemaker” is an attempt to preserve Seoul’s influence over North Korea diplomacy at a time when Pyongyang refuses direct engagement and Washington can move faster than alliance coordination. Lee first used the metaphor during his Aug. 25, 2025 White House meeting, telling Trump that “if you become the peacemaker, then I will assist you by being a pacemaker.” He has since made the idea part of his administration’s broader approach to the Korean Peninsula. The Unification Ministry’s 2026 work plancalls for Seoul to help restart U.S.-North © Korea Risk Group. All rights reserved. No part of this content may be reproduced, distributed, or used for commercial purposes without prior written permission from Korea Risk Group. LATEST ANALYSIS 01Trump’s Korea investment victory lap masks safeguards Seoul still controls 02North Korean POW dispute tests Seoul-Kyiv trust and future Ukraine policy 03South Korea’s CPTPP push exposes the cost of turning trade gains into consensus 04AI storage boom gives South Korea battery makers an EV overcapacity lifeline 05South Korea’s Mexico strategy runs into the hard limits of USMCA politics 06Preschool test ban forces South Korea’s English hagwons to rethink placement 07Lee Jae Myung’s Wall Street pitch tests South Korea’s capital market credibility 08US midterm clock raises stakes for South Korea’s $200 billion investment talks

Analysis

Lee Jae Myung’s ‘pacemaker’ strategy tests South Korea’s leverage with Trump

South Korea seeks influence over renewed US-North Korea diplomacy as Pyongyang shuts Seoul out of direct talks

Sooyoung OhOctober 2, 2026

Lee Jae Myung’s ‘pacemaker’ strategy tests South Korea’s leverage with Trump

ROK President Lee Jae Myung meets with U.S. President Donald Trump during the sidelines of the 81st U.N. General Assembly, Sept. 23, 2026 | Image: Blue House

President Lee Jae Myung’s effort to cast South Korea as Donald Trump’s “pacemaker” is an attempt to preserve Seoul’s influence over North Korea diplomacy at a time when Pyongyang refuses direct engagement and Washington can move faster than alliance coordination.

Lee first used the metaphor during his Aug. 25, 2025 White House meeting, telling Trump that “if you become the peacemaker, then I will assist you by being a pacemaker.” He has since made the idea part of his administration’s broader approach to the Korean Peninsula.

The Unification Ministry’s 2026 work plancalls for Seoul to help restart U.S.-North

Lee Jae Myung’s ‘pacemaker’ strategy tests South Korea’s leverage with Trump

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Sooyoung Oh