President Yoon Suk Yeol is preparing to attend the South Korea-ASEAN summit in Vientiane, Laos on October 10, with the aim of elevating the relationship between South Korea and ASEAN to a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership, the highest level within ASEAN's diplomatic structure. Laos is one of the three Southeast Asian countries that Yoon intends to visit next week, along with the Philippines and Singapore. This year's summit is anticipated to be a significant moment, with efforts to enhance cooperation in various areas such as politics, security, trade, investment, and addressing cybersecurity threats, digital transformation, and climate change. Yoon will also participate in the ASEAN Plus Three Summit in Laos on the same day, which will bring together leaders from the 10 ASEAN member states, China, Japan, and South Korea. The summit aims to strengthen cooperation among ASEAN and the three countries, building on the momentum from the trilateral summit held earlier in the year. Yoon is expected to engage in one-on-one discussions with Japan's new Prime Minister, Shigeru Ishiba, during the visit, continuing the efforts to improve bilateral relations and enhance trilateral cooperation among South Korea, Japan, and the US.