On Second Day in Japan, President Lee Visits Horyuji, Symbol of Ancient Korea-Japan Exchange (Comprehensive)

Prime Minister Takaichi personally welcomes President Lee,
brief conversation followed by temple tour
President Lee asks, "Did you come here for school trips as a child?"
Prime Minister Takaichi sees President Lee off with multiple handshakes

Yonhap News Agency

On the second day of his visit to Japan, January 14, President Lee Jaemyung visited Horyuji Temple in Nara Prefecture, where he spent time building rapport with Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi.

Prime Minister Takaichi arrived at Horyuji ahead of time to welcome President Lee, who was dressed in a dark gray coat and gray sneakers. After exchanging a handshake and a brief conversation, the two leaders toured the temple, listening to explanations from the chief monk. Prime Minister Takaichi accompanied President Lee, wearing a black coat and skirt. President Lee asked Prime Minister Takaichi, "Do you come here often? Did you come here for school trips as a child?" He also asked the chief monk, "Since this is a wooden building, has it been well preserved without any fires?" while touching one of the temple's pillars.

After touring the temple, the two leaders shook hands and posed for commemorative photos near the Kondo Hall, which houses the five-story wooden pagoda-the oldest pagoda in Japan. After the photo session, President Lee remarked to Prime Minister Takaichi, "It's truly impressive." Prime Minister Takaichi accompanied President Lee to his vehicle after the tour, and the two leaders shook hands three times during this process. Even after President Lee boarded his car, Prime Minister Takaichi approached again to shake hands through the window, drawing attention.

Yonhap News Agency

Horyuji is the oldest wooden structure in the world and was the first site in Japan to be registered as a UNESCO World Cultural Heritage site in 1993. In particular, the wooden standing statue of Avalokitesvara Bodhisattva, known as the "Baekje Avalokitesvara Statue," is believed to have been either gifted by the people of Baekje or crafted by Baekje artisans who migrated to Japan.

The previous day, President Lee held his fifth summit meeting since taking office, and his second with Prime Minister Takaichi since Shigeru Ishiba resigned and Takaichi assumed office. The summit lasted a total of 88 minutes, including a 20-minute small-group meeting and a 68-minute expanded meeting. After completing both the small-group and expanded meetings and delivering a joint press statement, the two leaders also held a one-on-one conversation and attended a dinner together.

After completing his visit to Horyuji, President Lee was scheduled to meet with Korean residents in the Kansai region, including Osaka, before returning home.