Foreign Minister Yoshimasa Hayashi arrived in Seoul on Monday to attend the inauguration ceremony of President-elect Yoon Suk-yeol, with attention focused on whether his visit can help improve soured bilateral ties.

After attending Tuesday's ceremony, Hayashi is expected to meet with Yoon and hand him a personal letter from Prime Minister Fumio Kishida, according to Japanese government sources.

Hayashi is expected to hold talks on Monday with incoming South Korean Foreign Minister Park Jin.