Lee says China expected to remove part of disputed steel structures from overlapping waters in Yellow Sea

▲ President Lee Jae Myung speaks during a press conference with South Korean media accompanying him on his state visit to China, in Shanghai on Jan. 7, 2026. (Yonhap)

▲ This composite image, provided by the office of Rep. Eom Tae-young of the main opposition People Power Party shows the steel structures installed by China in the overlapping area of the Yellow Sea with South Korea. (PHOTO NOT FOR SALE) (Yonhap)

Lee-China-steel structures

Lee says China expected to remove part of disputed steel structures from overlapping waters in Yellow Sea

SHANGHAI, Jan. 7 (Yonhap) -- President Lee Jae Myung said Wednesday that China is expected to remove one of its steel structures built in the overlapping waters of the Yellow Sea, amid lingering tensions over the installations that Seoul sees as potential groundwork for territorial claims by Beijing.

Lee made the remarks during a press conference on the last day of his four-day state visit to China, a trip aimed at restoring strained relations with Beijing and addressing key bilateral issues, including North Korea, economic and maritime issues. Lee held summit talks with Chinese President Xi Jinping on Monday.

Tensions have flared up between Seoul and Beijing after China installed three steel towers in the Provisional Maritime Zone (PMZ), where their economic exclusive zones (EEZs) in the Yellow Sea overlap and have yet to be demarcated.

China has claimed the structures are fish farms and management facilities. But Seoul has raised concerns that it may be laying the groundwork for future territorial claims to the waters, similar to its construction of artificial islands in the South China Sea, where it has ongoing disputes with neighboring countries.

At the press conference in Shanghai, Lee suggested China has agreed to dismantle the management facility.

"They say two structures are aquaculture facilities and the third one is for management. (They said) well, (we'll) pull out the management facility, so I think it will be removed," he said.

China installed two semi-submersible buoys in 2018 and 2024 in the PMZ. It also built a fixed steel structure in 2022, believed to be a repurposed decommissioned oil rig, claiming it to be a management facility.

Lee also said the South Korean side proposed drawing a median line in the PMZ to resolve the issue and discussing the matter through working-level talks.

"From our side, (we suggested) drawing a line down the middle and discussing the issue at the working level," he said.

Lee's office said after the summit talks that the two countries agreed to work together to resume vice-ministerial talks on the demarcation of the EEZ within this year. The talks remain stalled since the last round in 2019.

The EEZ refers to a sea zone stretching out to 200 nautical miles from a country's coastline. Based on the EEZ, a country has special rights regarding the exploration and use of marine resources.

Seoul maintains that the EEZ should be demarcated by drawing a median line, whereas Beijing argues it should be drawn in proportion to the lengths of the coasts and population along them.

Currently, the EEZs of South Korea and China partly overlap due to the limited dimensions of the Yellow Sea.

Regarding the ongoing tensions between China and Japan, Lee said South Korea's potential role as a mediator would be very limited.

"I think what we can do is very limited for now," he added. "When the time comes, and the situation allows for it, we will look for a role we can play."

Asked about China's export controls on Japan, Lee pointed out that the issue could affect South Korean exports and that his government is keeping close tabs on the situation.

"It may appear to be one single issue, but it's a highly complex matter," he said. "For now, I hope it can be resolved smoothly and quickly."

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