South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol and First Lady Kim Keon Hee visited London this week in a state visit to the United Kingdom.
The purpose of the state visit was to boost economic ties and security partnerships as the Republic of Korea faces what it saw as a growing danger from its nuclear-armed northern neighbor.
Yoon's visit to the UK was the first-ever state visit since the coronation of King Charles III.
British Ambassador to South Korea Colin Crooks told Reuters that the state visit was a "hugely significant" moment in the two countries' partnership, 140 years after it was officially established.
Diplomatic ties between London and Seoul go back to the British-Korean Treaty of 1883, back when Korea was still a monarchy.
"It reflects the fact that UK-Korea relations are the closest they have ever been, with close collaboration across defense, trade, science and technology, culture and energy and climate," Crooks said in a statement.
Aside from the symbolism of being the first state visit of Britain's modern Carolean age, the trip would also take bilateral cooperation to what Crooks described as "a new level of intensity through an ambitious and comprehensive suite of new partnerships and agreements," without any further elaborations.
King Charles III with Queen Camilla gestures, as he shows The President of Korea Yoon Suk Yeol, left, and First Lady, Kim Keon Hee, second left, a display of Korean items from the Royal Collection, inside Buckingham Palace on November 21, 2023 in London, England. King Charles is hosting Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol and his wife Kim Keon Hee on a state visit from November 21-23. It is the second incoming state visit hosted by the King during his reign.
Yoon's UK Trip So Far
Upon landing in London, Yoon and his wife were treated to a ceremonial welcome at Buckingham Palace by King Charles and his wife Queen Camilla.
Later that day, Yoon addressed British lawmakers in Westminster on Tuesday (November 21), saying that the relations between the two nations would be "reborn."
Barron's reported that the South Korean leader highlighted in his speech the intertwined history of the two nations before looking forward to deepening ties on Wednesday (November 22) by signing an agreement on a series of documents known as the "Downing Street Accord," which would open negotiations on a strengthened trade deal.
"We will begin negotiations to modernize the [free trade agreement] to strengthen cooperation and supply chains and digital trade," Yoon said. "Tomorrow Prime Minister [Rishi] Sunak and I will sign the Downing Street Accord. Our bilateral relations will be reborn as true global strategic partners."
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President of South Korea Yoon Suk Yeol and King Charles III during a toast at the State Banquet at Buckingham Palace on November 21, 2023, in London, England. King Charles is hosting Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol and his wife Kim Keon Hee on a state visit from November 21-23. It is the second incoming state visit hosted by the King during his reign.
Blackpink in the Palace
Later on Tuesday night, Yoon and the rest of the South Korean delegation were invited to a state dinner at Buckingham Palace.
Among the Koreans in the banquet were the highlight of the evening - Jennie, Jisoo, Lisa, and Rosé of the KPop group Blackpink.
The presence of the group - who heeded the strict white-tie dress code in style - was duly noticed by Charles, who mentioned them in his speech.
"It is especially inspiring to see Korea's younger generation embrace the cause," the monarch said. "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."
BLACKPINK react to being honoured during a speech by King Charles III for the Korean State Banquet at Buckingham Palace, via Sky News. pic.twitter.com/OYSfEOIqtm
— Pop Base (@PopBase) November 21, 2023
Upon the mention of their names, the girls were observed to be visibly delighted by Charles's apparent shoutout, People reported.
The king also highlighted in his speech Korea's influence in pop culture, in which he reckoned BTS as a worthy rival to The Beatles, whose surviving members have released what could be the band's final song, "Now and Then."
Aside from the king and queen, also present were the Prince and Princess of Wales William and Catherine, as well as Sunak and his predecessor and current Foreign Secretary, Lord David Cameron.
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