Arriving Before Brazilian President Lula
First Ladies of Korea and Brazil Build Friendship at the National Folk Museum in Paju
Viewing Traditional Folk Crafts
On the 21st, Mrs. Kim Hye-kyung, together with Brazilian First Lady Janja Lula da Silva, who is visiting Korea, toured the exhibition "Brazil Rio Carnival: Soul of Africa, Rhythm of Samba" and viewed traditional Korean folk crafts at the Paju branch of the National Folk Museum of Korea.
Kim Hyekyung and Janja Lula Da Silva, wife of Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula Da Silva, toured the museum's storage facility at the National Folk Museum in Paju, Gyeonggi, during a social event on the 21st. Photo by Yonhap News
Cheong Wa Dae deputy spokesperson Jeon Eunsu said, "This event was arranged as a social gathering to introduce the traditional cultures of both countries and to share their origins and beauty," adding, "Immediately after experiencing Hanbok at Gwangjang Market, the two first ladies moved to the National Folk Museum of Korea and continued their conversation on the folk cultures of the two countries." Arriving ahead of President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, who will pay a two-night, three-day state visit to Korea starting on the 22nd, Mrs. Janja entered the country earlier and spent time in fellowship with Mrs. Kim on this day.
When Mrs. Kim and Mrs. Janja stood by the "Mangueira Samba School" sign installed in the first-floor lobby, Mrs. Janja explained in detail the origins and meaning of the festival, as well as Brazil's history and cultural diversity, saying, "The samba festival is the greatest festival in the world, but in the past it was a festival of the poor."
After looking around key exhibits such as the "Mangueira Samba School" flag and parade structures, Mrs. Janja asked Mrs. Kim to "visit the samba festival," to which Mrs. Kim responded, "It is an honor to view the exhibition with you." When Mrs. Janja demonstrated the samba rhythm by playing a festival drum herself in the interactive exhibition space, Mrs. Kim applauded and smiled brightly.
The two first ladies then moved to the open storage area and viewed exhibits that showcase Korea's traditional lifestyle culture. In the wooden furniture section, as they looked at rice cake molds and dasik boards, Mrs. Kim asked, "What is the traditional food in Brazil that is similar to Korea's rice cakes?" and they exchanged questions and answers about the traditional foods of both countries.
When the two first ladies entered the ceramics exhibition area, which is a "tower-type storage," National Folk Museum Director Jang Sanghun said, "There are no description cards for the exhibits here," and introduced the electronic kiosk. Upon hearing that it allows searches of some 180,000 items in the collection, Mrs. Janja expressed her surprise, saying, "This is the first time I have seen a museum in this form."
Kim Hyekyung and Janja Lula da Silva, wife of Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, are chatting at a social event held on the 21st at the National Folk Museum in Paju, Gyeonggi Province. Photo by Yonhap News
Afterward, the two first ladies moved to the Folk Archive Information Center on the second floor and continued their conversation over tea. When it was explained that, despite being located in Paju, which is somewhat distant from Seoul, the "Brazil Rio Carnival" exhibition had drawn more than 25,000 visitors, Mrs. Kim introduced Paju by saying, "Paju is an area close to North Korea," and the topic of conversation shifted to the Korean drama "Crash Landing on You," which tells a love story between South and North.
When Mrs. Janja's aides expressed their fondness for Korean dramas, Mrs. Kim welcomed this by saying, "Not only K-pop but also K-dramas are playing a major role in emotionally connecting the world."
Their conversation then moved on to BTS's comeback performance, K-pop, and music. In response to Mrs. Janja's question, "Do you still play the piano?" Mrs. Kim answered, "As I have been accompanying my husband's political journey, I no longer have opportunities to perform." The two first ladies agreed that their husbands share many similarities, and Mrs. Kim said, "I respect Mrs. Janja, who has devotedly supported President Lula during difficult times."
The two first ladies then concluded their museum tour, which lasted for a little over an hour, with a commemorative photo, promising to meet again in the future.
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