Interest from Traditional Culture to K-pop and K-drama
Welcoming Speech Ends with Hyangga Recitation
Michael Mainelli, Lord Mayor of the London Financial District, showed profound love for Korea on the 22nd (local time) by praising kimchi, mentioning the Korean drama Extraordinary Attorney Woo, and the Silla-era temple Bulguksa, as well as reciting a passage from the traditional Korean poetry form Hyangga in English during President Yoon Suk-yeol's state visit to the UK.
At a dinner hosted on the afternoon of the 22nd (local time) in the Great Hall of Guildhall in the London Financial District, Mayor Mainelli welcomed President Yoon by saying, "Today we celebrate Kimchi Day (November 22nd)," which brought laughter to the audience.
It is customary in the UK that when a foreign head of state is invited for a state visit, the Lord Mayor of the London Financial District holds a separate reception or dinner for the guest, apart from the official royal events. The Lord Mayor, who has been delegated some autonomy by the monarch since medieval times, ranks second in protocol in this area after the British monarch.
Mayor Mainelli shared that King Charles III received kimchi as a gift in London’s Koreatown last week and, before taking his first bite, cautiously said, "I hope my head doesn’t explode." He also mentioned his own experience visiting the Kimchi Museum at Lotte World during a trip to Korea.
The praise for Korean culture that began with kimchi extended to K-pop and K-dramas. Mayor Mainelli said, "This is an era where Korean culture and creativity are felt at the forefront," adding, "The K-pop group BLACKPINK came to Buckingham Palace yesterday, and it was truly beautiful," and "They are said to be the most followed group on YouTube."
He continued, "We are increasingly living in a K-world. Ordinary Londoners watch Korean dramas, eat at Korean restaurants, listen to K-pop, and watch great Korean football players score goals in the Premier League," reiterating his point. The attendees burst into laughter and applause.
Mayor Mainelli again expressed, "I like dramas such as Hotel Del Luna, Crash Landing on You, and Extraordinary Attorney Woo," emphasizing, "It really is a K-world. Just by looking at this, you can see how far the relationship between the UK and Korea has come."
President Yoon Suk-yeol, on a state visit to the United Kingdom, is having a conversation with Michael Mainelli, Mayor of the London Financial District, at a dinner hosted by the Mayor of the London Financial District held at Guildhall in the London Financial District on the 22nd (local time). [Photo by Yonhap News]
Having previously served in the Ministry of Defense, Mayor Mainelli recalled the days when Western countries sold old military vehicles to Korea, saying, "But this has changed. I personally saw Admiral Yi Sun-sin’s turtle ship, and now this country has become a global leader in defense and shipping, securing contracts worldwide." He also quoted Dr. Jang Ha-joon of Cambridge University, who said Korea boldly took an independent path and "succeeded."
He also shared his experience visiting Korean temples. Mayor Mainelli said, "When my wife and I went to Korea, we were amazed by how beautiful the temples were," adding, "Especially Bulguksa of Silla was truly beautiful, and we could feel the 'Land of the Morning Calm.'
Mayor Mainelli concluded his welcome speech with a Hyangga poem by the Buddhist monk Gyunyeo, who was active until the reign of King Gwangjong of Goryeo. In English, he recited, "Scatter the shadows of suffering deeply rooted in the land of ignorance. And water the field of our hearts, which strives to grow good grass. Oh, how happy is the autumn moonlit field. For the fruit of knowledge is ripening."
Mayor Mainelli did not mention the name of the Hyangga. However, based on the verses he recited, it appears to be a modern interpretation of Cheongjeon Beomnyunga, one of the 11 poems in the Bohyeon Sipwonga (total 26 Hyangga poems passed down), with the archaic expressions and Buddhist ideas removed.
Earlier, King Charles III also recited a passage from poet Yoon Dong-ju’s When the Wind Blows in English at a state dinner held in the ballroom of Buckingham Palace the previous day, and President Yoon responded by quoting works of the great British writer Shakespeare during his speech.
President Yoon Suk-yeol and First Lady Kim Keon-hee, who are on a state visit to the United Kingdom, are observing a moment of silence at a dinner hosted by the Mayor of the London Financial District at Guildhall in the London Financial District on the 22nd (local time). [Image source=Yonhap News]
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