South Korean President, Yoon Suk-yeol, and his wife, Kim Keon-hee, made an official state visit to the United Kingdom. On the day of their arrival, they were received by members of the British royal family at the Horse Guards in London.
Their Majesties, King Charles III and Queen Camilla, and The Prince and Princess of Wales, were part of the welcoming party for the South Korean delegation.
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| Welcome ceremony at the Horse Guards. Photo credit: The Royal Family |
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| The Prince and Princess of Wales welcomed The South Korean President and his wife. Photo credit: The Royal Family |
The President. accompanied by His Majesty, and The Prince of Wales, then inspected the Guard of Honor. Afterward, they took part in the carriage procession along The Mall to Buckingham Palace.
Following a private lunch at Buckingham Palace given by The King. His Majesty invited the President and the First Lady to view a special exhibition in the Picture Gallery of items from the Royal Collection relating to the Republic of Korea.
The South Korean President and his wife were accompanied later by The Duke of Gloucester (Prince Richard) in the wreath-laying ceremony at the Korean Memorial.
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| The Princess of Wales in red ensembles during the welcome ceremony |
State Banquet
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| State Banquet Hall. Photo credit: The Royal Family |
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| Photo credit: The Royal Family |
K-pop girl group, Blackpink, was part of the South Korean delegation invited to Buckingham Palace's state banquet. His Majesty said in his speech, “It is especially inspiring to see Korea’s younger generation embrace the cause (about sustainability), I applaud Jennie, Jisoo, Lisa, and Rosé, better known collectively as BLACKPINK, for their role in bringing the message of environmental sustainability to a global audience as Ambassadors for the U.K.’s Presidency of COP 26, and later as advocates for the U.N. Sustainable Development Goals. I can only admire how they can prioritize these vital issues, as well as being global superstars. Sadly, when I was in Seoul all those years ago, I am not sure I developed much of what might be called the Gangnam Style!”
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| Photo credit: The Royal Family |
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| Photo credit: The Royal Family |
His Majesty spoke of the affection and shared values of the UK and the Republic of Korea in his banquet speech and mentioned the thriving Korean culture in the British landscapes:
"But it is probably artistic creativity that has brought about the most dramatic shift in Korea’s place in the British cultural landscape. Three decades ago, it would have been hard to imagine that the most popular exhibition at the Victoria and Albert Museum in 2023 would be Hallyu, showcasing the Korean Wave, or that Korea would become the fastest-growing modern language among those studied at British universities.
Korea has matched Danny Boyle with Bong Joon-ho, James Bond with Squid Game, and the Beatles’ Let It Be with BTS’s Dynamite. Our cultures share a remarkable ability to captivate imaginations across the world, transforming a so-called soft power into a shared superpower. I fear, though, that I am unlikely ever to follow in King Sejong’s footsteps and create a whole new alphabet!"
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