Lee to Personally Welcome State Guest Trump: Cheonmachong Gold Crown Gift, Three-Course Korean Meal, and Golden Dessert [Gyeongju APEC]

President Trump Makes Second State Visit to Korea
147 Days After Launch of New Administration
"Shortest Interval in History"
Awarding of the Mugunghwa Grand Order of Merit,
Presentation of Gyeongju Golden Crown Replica

President Lee Jaemyung will welcome U.S. President Donald Trump as a state guest during his two-day visit to Korea starting on the 29th. President Trump will be the first foreign head of state to visit Korea twice as a state guest, and this marks his visit just 147 days after the launch of the Lee administration. This is the shortest interval in history between reciprocal visits by the leaders of South Korea and the United States. President Trump is scheduled to receive the highest honors, including the Order of Mugunghwa.

President Lee Jae-myung is delivering the keynote speech at the 2025 Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation Chief Executive Officer Summit (APEC CEO SUMMIT) held at the Hwarang Hall of the Gyeongju Arts Center in Gyeongbuk on the morning of the 29th. 2025.10.29 Photo by Kang Jinhyung

President Trump's first official activity as a state guest will be a visit to the Gyeongju National Museum. Accompanied by a traditional military band, President Trump will enter and be greeted by President Lee in front of the Cheonnyeonmiso Hall. The two leaders will then proceed into the museum together, sign the guestbook, and view an exhibition of Trump-themed goods while holding a one-on-one conversation.

During the subsequent official welcoming ceremony, the two leaders will review the honor guard together and exchange greetings with the delegations from both sides. After the exchange, President Trump's achievements in advancing peace on the Korean Peninsula will be recognized, and for the first time, a U.S. president will be awarded the Grand Order of Mugunghwa, the highest honor of the Korean government. The presidential office stated that this is meant to encourage his role as a peacemaker.

Afterwards, the two leaders will view the displayed Silla golden crown. President Lee has prepared a replica of the Cheonmachong golden crown as a commemorative gift for President Trump's visit. According to the presidential office, this symbolizes a new era of peaceful coexistence and joint prosperity on the Korean Peninsula, reflecting the long period of peace maintained by Silla, and the future that South Korea and the United States will build together.

During the luncheon meeting, attended by key ministers from both countries, the leaders will discuss comprehensive directions for the development of the Korea-U.S. alliance, including trade, investment, economic security cooperation, alliance modernization, and peace on the Korean Peninsula. The luncheon venue will be decorated with peace lilies, symbolizing the hope that President Trump's efforts for international peace will also blossom on the Korean Peninsula.

The luncheon will begin with an appetizer featuring Thousand Island dressing, representing President Trump's success story in his hometown of New York. This will be followed by a three-course Korean meal tailored to President Trump's preferences, featuring rice made with newly harvested Gyeongju rice, seasonal ingredients from across the country, and local specialties. The meal will conclude with a golden dessert, symbolizing the golden era of the Korea-U.S. alliance and hopes for peace.

This evening, President Lee will host a "special dinner" for President Trump and the leaders of seven other countries visiting Korea for the APEC Leaders' Week. The dinner will be attended by the leaders of the United States, Vietnam, Australia, New Zealand, Canada, Thailand, and Singapore, who are partner countries in the region.

The presidential office explained, "President Trump's state visit to Korea is expected to further solidify the trust established between the two leaders during President Lee's visit to the United States in August, and serve as an opportunity to achieve tangible results in practical cooperation across a wide range of fields."