(LEAD) Lee says cooperation with U.S. should go beyond alliance to tech, innovation, startups

(ATTN: UPDATES with more info in paras 3, 6-9)By Park Boram

SAN FRANCISCO, July 25 (Yonhap) -- President Lee Jae Myung said Saturday that South Korea and the United States should advance their ties beyond their time-honored alliance by expanding cooperation into technology, innovation and startups.

Lee made the remarks at a meeting in San Francisco with venture capitalists investing in Silicon Valley. The South Korean president arrived here Friday en route to Brazil, the first destination of his three-nation trip to South America.

The meeting was attended by executives from six venture capital firms based in Silicon Valley, including Martin Casado of Andreessen Horowitz; Alfred Lin of Sequoia Capital; and Hemant Taneja of General Catalyst.

"South Korea and the U.S. should expand the scope of their cooperation beyond the longstanding security alliance to include technology, innovation and startups," Lee said.

He insisted that combining the U.S.' world-class venture capital capacity and global networks with South Korea's advanced technology and manufacturing competitiveness would create new global innovators, the likes of global chipmakers Samsung Electronics and SK hynix, that will lead the world.

President Lee Jae Myung speaks during a meeting in San Francisco with venture capitalists investing in Silicon Valley on July 25, 2026. (Yonhap)

"If South Korea's startups meet U.S. capital and markets, while U.S. investors and innovative companies connect with South Korea's technology, manufacturing and talent ecosystem, both countries will become partners in innovation that will shape the future over the next 30 years," Lee said.

The South Korean president also called for partnerships and investment from the U.S. venture capital firms, pledging to create the world's best environment for investment and startups.

He vowed to reform the visa system to better attract foreign startup talent while laying the foundation for cooperation linking companies, research institutes and investors at home and abroad.

"If South Korea's promising startups meet your global investment capacity, investors would gain new opportunities for growth," Lee said, calling it the "most successful innovation model." He also vowed to help startups become global players by connecting them with private and government-managed funds.

President Lee Jae Myung (C) poses for a photo with executives of venture capital firms in San Francisco on July 25, 2026. (Yonhap)