Trump Receives Cheonmachong Gold Crown Model and Grand Order of Mugunghwa: "Truly Beautiful...I Want to Wear It Right Away" [Gyeongju APEC]

President Lee Presents Cheonmachong Gold Crown Replica as State Visit Gift
Grand Order of Mugunghwa, South Korea's Highest Decoration, Also Awarded

President Lee Jaemyung and U.S. President Donald Trump, who is on a state visit, began their second summit on the afternoon of October 29 at the Gyeongju National Museum. President Trump is the first foreign dignitary to visit South Korea twice as a state guest, and this visit comes 147 days after the inauguration of the Lee administration. This marks the shortest period in history for the leaders of South Korea and the United States to visit each other's countries. President Trump received an exceptionally warm welcome, including the awarding of the Grand Order of Mugunghwa.

Yonhap News Agency

At around 2:12 p.m., more than an hour and a half later than originally scheduled, President Trump entered the venue escorted by a traditional military band and received a welcome from President Lee. He shook hands with President Lee, who had arrived earlier and was waiting in the meeting room, and then signed the guestbook. The two leaders then attended the official welcoming ceremony, which included the playing of both national anthems and a review of the honor guard.

The summit was attended by U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio, Secretary of the Treasury Scott Besant, Secretary of Commerce Howard Lutnick, White House Chief of Staff Susie Wiles, U.S. Trade Representative (USTR) Jamison Greer, Acting U.S. Ambassador to Korea Kevin Kim, White House Deputy Chief of Staff Stephen Miller, and White House Communications Director Stephen Cheung. On the Korean side, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Economy and Finance Koo Yooncheol, Minister of Foreign Affairs Cho Hyun, Minister of Trade, Industry and Energy Kim Jeonggwan, Presidential Chief of Staff Kang Hunsik, National Security Advisor Wi Sunglak, Presidential Policy Chief Kim Yongbeom, Ambassador to the United States Kang Kyunghwa, Trade Negotiation Head Yeo Hankoo, and Presidential Spokesperson Kang Yujeong were present.

Yonhap News Agency

After the official welcoming ceremony, President Lee presented President Trump with a model of the Cheonmachong Gold Crown as a commemorative gift for his visit to Korea. The Grand Order of Mugunghwa, the highest order of merit awarded by the Korean government, was also conferred. President Lee said, "The people of the Republic of Korea express their special gratitude to President Trump." Looking at the medal, President Trump responded, "We will continue to further strengthen the alliance between our countries. It is truly beautiful. I want to wear it right away."

The Presidential Office explained that the model of the Cheonmachong Gold Crown symbolizes a new era of peaceful coexistence and joint prosperity on the Korean Peninsula, drawing on the history of Silla, which maintained a long period of peace on the peninsula, and the shared efforts of South Korea and the United States. Regarding the Grand Order of Mugunghwa, the office stated that it was intended as a request for President Trump to play the role of a peacemaker.