Italy to award President Lee Jae Myung its highest decoration for foreign heads of state
Italian President Sergio Mattarella will confer the Knight Grand Cross with Collar of the Order of Merit on Lee during a state banquet in Rome on June 11, 2026. The award recognizes Lee's role in strengthening ties between South Korea and Italy.
deccanchronicle.comPresident Lee Jae Myung will receive Italy's Knight Grand Cross with Collar of the Order of Merit of the Italian Republic on June 11, 2026. Italian President Sergio Mattarella will confer the decoration during a state banquet in Rome. The honor is Italy's highest state decoration bestowed on foreign heads of state.
Italy conferred the same decoration on King Charles III of Britain and the president of the United Arab Emirates in 2025. Presidential spokesperson Kang Yu-jung said the conferral reflects Italy's highest expression of respect for Lee in appreciation of his contributions to strengthening friendship between the two countries.
President Lee Jae Myung and Italian President Sergio Mattarella held summit talks at the Quirinal Palace in Rome on June 12, 2026.
During the summit, the two leaders agreed to elevate bilateral ties to a special strategic partnership. President Lee Jae Myung is on a state visit to Italy, the first such visit by a South Korean president in 26 years. A photograph shows the two leaders shaking hands during their summit talks at the Quirinal Palace.
