President Duda: "Polish Soldiers Satisfied with Korean Weapons"
First Lady Kim Keon-hee and Polish First Lady Participate in Spouse Program
President Yoon Suk-yeol and First Lady Kim Keon-hee are taking a commemorative photo with Polish President Andrzej Duda, his wife Agata Kornhauser Duda, and the performers of the day, including traditional Korean musicians Shin Young-hee and Yoo Tae-pyung, pianist Yoon Yeon-jun, and vocalist Lee Eung-kwang, at the state banquet held on the 24th at the Blue House State Guest House. [Image source=Yonhap News]
On the evening of the 24th, President Yoon Suk-yeol held a state dinner at the Blue House State Guesthouse for Polish President Andrzej Duda and First Lady Agata Kornhauser-Duda, who are on a state visit to Korea.
The dinner was attended by both couples and about 50 key figures from the governments, business sectors, and academia of both countries, according to the presidential office.
In his dinner speech, President Yoon stated, "Korea and Poland have developed mutually beneficial cooperation in various fields based on the commonality of overcoming historical wounds and achieving rapid economic growth and democratization." He also mentioned the close cultural exchanges between the two peoples, saying, "The music of Poland's great composer Chopin is reborn through Korean pianist Cho Seong-jin, and in Poland, numerous K-pop fans enjoy Korean music."
He continued, "Poland, preserved by many patriots including President Duda's maternal grandfather, has developed into one of the world's top 20 powers and is playing a leading role in addressing global crises such as the war in Ukraine." In particular, he said, "Since Korea and Poland understand the importance of national security better than anyone, Korean weapons protect Poland's land and sky, and the drones Poland contracted to purchase earlier this month will protect Korean territory."
President Yoon Suk-yeol and First Lady Kim Keon-hee are applauding while watching a performance with Polish President Andrzej Duda and his wife Agata Kornhauser Duda at the state banquet held at the Blue House's State Guest House on the 24th. [Image source=Yonhap News]
President Yoon emphasized, "The Republic of Korea will further strengthen strategic cooperation with Poland, which shares the values of freedom, human rights, and the rule of law, and President Duda's visit to Korea will be the first step toward a hopeful and mature 35 years ahead."
In his response, President Duda said, "To Poles, Korea has symbolized development and was known as the 'Tiger of the East,' and now, with the import of Korean weapons, it has become a symbol of security." He also explained, "Polish soldiers are satisfied with Korean weapons, and through defense industry cooperation with Korea, Poland has gained hope of exporting weapons to third countries."
President Duda stated, "Korea is a model for Poland, and I am confident that cooperation with Korea is beneficial for Poland," adding, "There is great potential for cooperation between the two countries, which are following similar paths of development through similar methods."
He especially noted, "Next month on the 1st, we will celebrate the 35th anniversary of diplomatic relations between our two countries, and I strongly hope that Koreans and Poles will develop even closer ties in the future."
The dinner featured a performance combining Korean traditional music and Polish classical music. Shin Young-hee, a master pansori singer designated as a national intangible cultural asset, performed 'Love Song' from Chunhyangga, and sorikkun Yoo Tae-pyung sang 'Sacheolga.' The two then sang 'Namdo Minyo' together. Additionally, composer and pianist Yoon Yeon-jun and baritone Lee Eung-kwang performed Chopin's pieces, and the event concluded with everyone joining in singing the Korean traditional folk song 'Jindo Arirang.' President Duda and the First Lady remarked, "While we enjoyed Chopin's music, we were deeply captivated by Korean traditional music."
Furthermore, First Lady Kim Geon-hee and First Lady Agata visited Gyeongbokgung Palace as part of a program for the spouses of the two countries during the state visit, spending time together appreciating the excellence of Korean cultural heritage, the presidential office reported.
President Yoon Suk-yeol is greeting and embracing Polish President Andrzej Duda as he departs after the state banquet held at the Blue House's State Guest House on the 24th. [Image source=Yonhap News]
© The Asia Business Daily(www.asiae.co.kr). All rights reserved.
