Lee to hold special dinner with leaders of eight countries including Trump…discusses economic cooperation plan

President Lee Jae-myung will welcome U.S. President Donald Trump as a state guest for a one-night, two-day visit starting on the 29th. The Presidential Office said the visit is significant as it completes reciprocal visits between the South Korean and U.S. presidents in a record 147 days since the launch of the Lee administration. President Trump became the first foreign leader to visit Korea as a state guest twice.

President Trump will visit the Gyeongju National Museum as his first official activity of the state visit. He will enter accompanied and escorted by a traditional military band and be welcomed by President Lee Jae-myung in front of the Millennium Smile Hall. The two presidents will move into the museum together, sign the guestbook, view an exhibition of "Trump merchandise" and hold a one-on-one conversation.

At the subsequent official welcome ceremony, the two leaders will jointly review the honor guard and exchange greetings with the delegations from both sides. Afterwards, President Trump will receive our government's highest decoration, the "Grand Order of Mugunghwa," becoming the first U.S. president to do so. The Presidential Office explained this is "to recognize President Trump's achievements for realizing peace on the Korean Peninsula and to ask him to play the role of 'Peace maker.'"

After the decoration, the two presidents will view the displayed Silla gold crown. To commemorate President Trump's visit, President Lee prepared a model of the Cheonmachong gold crown as a gift. The Presidential Office interpreted it as symbolizing the new era of peaceful coexistence and shared growth on the Korean Peninsula that the Republic of Korea and the United States will build together, alongside Silla's long period of peace.

During the luncheon meeting, with key ministers from both countries in attendance, they will discuss trade, investment and economic security cooperation, alliance modernization, and the comprehensive development direction of the Korea-U.S. alliance including peace on the Korean Peninsula. A "peace lily," a flower symbolizing 'peace,' will be placed in the luncheon hall. The intention is to express the hope that President Trump's efforts for international peace will also blossom on the Korean Peninsula.

The lunch menu will begin with an appetizer dressed with Thousand Island dressing, symbolizing President Trump's success story in his hometown New York. A three-course Korean meal will be prepared to suit President Trump's preferences, featuring rice made from newly harvested Gyeongju rice, seasonal ingredients from across the country, and regional specialties. The meal will conclude with a golden dessert wishing for the heyday and peace of the Korea-U.S. alliance. The menu embodies the long-standing alliance and trust between the two countries and their commitment to future cooperation.

That evening, to mark APEC leaders' week, President Lee will host a "presidential special leaders' dinner" inviting President Trump and leaders from seven countries visiting for the week. The leaders attending include those from the United States, Vietnam, Australia, New Zealand, Canada, Thailand and Singapore. They are expected to freely exchange views on "economic cooperation in the Indo-Pacific region."

At the dinner, President Lee is expected to emphasize that cooperation among regional countries is more important than ever amid changing international circumstances. He is also expected to express the Republic of Korea's intention to actively serve as a bridge between the region's technology-leading countries and emerging market countries. The Presidential Office said, "Through this dinner, our government seeks to further enhance its standing as a key U.S. ally and its role as an 'agenda setter' leading regional cooperation discussions."

The Presidential Office added, "President Trump's state visit is expected to further consolidate the trust between the two presidents built during President Lee Jae-myung's visit to the United States last August and serve as an opportunity to produce tangible cooperative outcomes across a wide range of areas."

Gyeongju=Reporter Kim Hyung-gyu khk@hankyung.com