Yoon-Kishida Couple Dinner... "Developing Korea-Japan Relations is a Historic Responsibility"

Yoon-Kishida Dinner for 2 Hours at Cheongwadae Main Building
Han-sik and Il-sik Menu Prepared by Kim Yeo-sa
Kishida "After Rain, Ground Hardens... Overcoming Difficulties"

President Yoon Suk-yeol is shaking hands with Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida at the expanded Korea-Japan summit held on the 6th at the Yongsan Presidential Office in Seoul. [Image source=Yonhap News]

President Yoon Suk-yeol and First Lady Kim Keon-hee hosted Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida, his wife Yuko, and the Japanese delegation for a dinner at the Blue House main building on the 6th, during their visit to Korea, the Presidential Office spokesperson Jeong Hye-jeon announced in a written briefing.

In his dinner speech, President Yoon said, "Since my visit to Japan in March last year, for one and a half years, we have been able to firmly move forward toward the future based solely on the national interest and the strong trust with Prime Minister Kishida."

President Yoon emphasized, "Improving Korea-Japan relations has never been a smooth process," adding, "Unpredictable difficulties may arise in the future of Korea-Japan relations, but we must not waver."

He particularly stated, "Developing Korea-Japan relations is not a choice but a historical responsibility," and urged, "I hope Prime Minister Kishida will continue to steadfastly support the development of Korea-Japan relations."

Recalling Prime Minister Kishida’s visit to Korea in May last year, which restored shuttle diplomacy after 12 years, and his visit to the memorial for Korean atomic bomb victims in Hiroshima as the first Korean president to do so in the same month, President Yoon said, "We are writing a new history of Korea-Japan relations together."

President Yoon Suk-yeol is moving to hold a Korea-Japan summit with Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida, who visited Korea, at the Yongsan Presidential Office Building in Seoul on the 6th. [Image source=Yonhap News]

In response, Prime Minister Kishida greeted in Korean, "Mr. President, Madam, everyone, nice to meet you. Thank you sincerely for inviting me to this wonderful dinner today."

Prime Minister Kishida then emphasized, "There is a Korean proverb that says, 'The ground hardens after the rain.' Since Korea and Japan are neighbors, there have been difficulties, but we have overcome them together and strengthened our ties."

He continued, "There have been times when heavy rain fell on Korea-Japan relations, but the journey we have forged by stepping together on the rain-soaked path with President Yoon was a new beginning for Korea-Japan relations," adding, "The two countries are cooperating as partners addressing various challenges in the international community based on the trust and friendship between our leaders."

Prime Minister Kishida explained, "Even if differences of opinion arise in the future, let us continue dialogue and work together to pioneer a path," and said, "As the phrase 'Gyeongyo Segye' goes, I hope Korea and Japan will continue to illuminate each other and shine together in the region and the world."

‘Gyeongyo Segye’ is a plaque left by Park An-gi of the Joseon Tongsinsa at Seikenji Temple in Shizuoka Prefecture, meaning two jade beads reflecting each other. It symbolizes the intention for Korea and Japan to trust and interact with each other and maintain a good relationship.

At the dinner, traditional Korean instruments gayageum and haegeum were played with popular drama and animation theme songs from both countries. The menu, personally selected by First Lady Kim, combined Korean and Japanese cuisine.

The appetizer included sesame tofu, grilled salted golden tilefish accompanied by seasoned kyongsuchae (a vegetable popular in Japan), and shrimp dumplings. The main dishes featured natural matsutake mushrooms, marinated Korean beef ribs, and buckwheat cold noodles, while dessert offered autumn-inspired chestnuts and kinako (roasted soybean flour used in Japanese cuisine) pudding.

The dinner was attended by Foreign Minister Cho Tae-yul, Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism Yoo In-chon, Ambassador to Japan Park Cheol-hee, Presidential Chief of Staff Jeong Jin-seok, National Security Office Director Shin Won-sik, and Special Advisor for Foreign Affairs and Security Jang Ho-jin. On the Japanese side, Cabinet Secretary Murai Hideki, National Security Secretariat Director Akiba Takeo, Ambassador to Korea Mizushima Koichi, and Foreign Ministry Counselor Funakoshi Takehiro were present.