Ambassadors from 117 Countries and Representatives of 30 International Organizations Invited
Chey Tae-won and Other Economic Leaders to Attend
President Lee to Host "National Appointment Ceremony" After Dinner
Kang Yujeong, spokesperson for the Presidential Office, is walking toward the microphone at the Yongsan Presidential Office building in Seoul on the 14th to hold a briefing about the upcoming national appointment ceremony scheduled for the 15th. Photo by Yonhap News
On August 15, President Lee Jaemyung will host a dinner at the State Guest House at Cheong Wa Dae with resident diplomatic envoys and representatives of international organizations in Korea.
On August 14, Kang Yujeong, spokesperson for the Presidential Office, explained during a briefing at the Yongsan Presidential Office that "this is the first diplomatic corps event to which all ambassadors from 117 resident embassies and representatives from 30 international organizations in Korea have been invited."
In addition to the diplomatic corps, a total of 171 people will attend the event, including special envoys dispatched by President Lee, members of the National Assembly's Foreign Affairs and Unification Committee, ministers from relevant ministries, and heads of major economic organizations. Key invitees include Chey Tae-won, Chairman of the Korea Chamber of Commerce and Industry; Ryu Jin, Chairman of the Federation of Korean Industries; Kim Ki-moon, Chairman of the Korea Federation of SMEs; Sohn Kyung-shik, Chairman of the Korea Employers Federation; Yoon Jin-sik, Chairman of the Korea International Trade Association; and Choi Jin-sik, Chairman of the Korea Federation of Middle Market Enterprises.
Notably, General Xavier Brunson, Commander of United States Forces Korea and Commander of the ROK-US Combined Forces Command, is also included. He previously mentioned the possibility of reducing US troops in Korea ahead of the Korea-US summit, and his attendance at the dinner hosted by President Lee is considered unusual.
The event will proceed with a reception, President Lee's dinner address, the dinner itself, a briefing by Vice Minister of Foreign Affairs Kim Jin-a on the progress of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Summit, and remarks from an ambassador. According to spokesperson Kang, President Lee will use his dinner address to ask the diplomatic corps to serve as bridges for communication and cooperation between Korea and their respective countries, and to explain the government's commitment to a national interest-centered diplomacy under the people's sovereignty.
This is President Lee's first meeting with the diplomatic corps since taking office. Kang stated, "The dinner is an introductory event held just two months after the inauguration, which is much earlier than usual. It will signal both domestically and internationally that Korean diplomacy has returned to its proper course and will serve as a platform for communication with the diplomatic corps in Korea."
At the event, the Irwolobongdo (Sun, Moon, and Five Peaks folding screen), a symbol of Cheong Wa Dae, and the Magpie and Tiger, a representative motif of Korean folk paintings, will be displayed as backdrops. The dinner menu will feature royal court cuisine, desserts made with Heungnam bread-a specialty of Gyeongju-and Daemongjae, a traditional liquor from the Choi family of Gyeongju.
After the dinner, a "National Appointment Ceremony" will take place on a circular stage set up at Gwanghwamun Square. At this ceremony, President Lee will present appointment certificates to 80 citizen representatives, including Mok Janggyun, a recipient of the fifth-class Order of Merit for National Foundation born in 1945, and Lee Gukjong, Director of the Daejeon Armed Forces Hospital. Over 3,000 special guests have been invited to the ceremony, including former President Moon Jae-in and his wife, Kwon Yang-sook, the widow of former President Roh Moo-hyun, various representatives from different sectors, and members of the general public.
© The Asia Business Daily(www.asiae.co.kr). All rights reserved.
