President Lee Presents Mother-of-Pearl Decorated Guitar to Guitar Enthusiast Singaporean Prime Minister

Magnolia-Patterned Tea Set Presented to Mrs. Lo Zhi Rui

On November 2, President Lee Jaemyung presented Singaporean Prime Minister Lawrence Wong, who visited Korea for a summit, with an electric guitar decorated with traditional Korean lacquerware. The gift was chosen to reflect Prime Minister Wong's passion for music and his advanced guitar skills. Wong is known as an enthusiast with a deep interest in all types of guitars, including acoustic, electric, and boutique models.

Lacquerware Decorated Guitar (Provided by the Office of the President)

Unlike previous Singaporean government scholarship recipients who preferred to study at prestigious universities in the United Kingdom, Prime Minister Wong chose to study in the United States, the birthplace of many of his favorite musicians. It is also known that during his time in the United States, he has fond memories of busking on the streets with his roommate, playing the guitar for about two hours and earning 30 dollars.

Kang Yoojeong, spokesperson for the Office of the President, explained, "By adding traditional Korean lacquerware techniques to a modern electric guitar, we expect this to be a personalized gift that showcases the unique characteristics of Korean culture."

Magnolia Pattern Tea Set (Provided by the Office of the President)

In addition, a magnolia pattern tea set was presented to Mrs. Lo Zhi Rui. This gift was chosen to reflect both Mrs. Rui's love of reading and the Singaporean people's affinity for tea. Traditionally, magnolias symbolize wealth, honor, and resonance, and are considered flowers that bring blessings and virtue. The Office of the President conveyed that the gift expresses the hope for the continued friendship between Korea and Singapore.