From Dinner to "Chimaek"... President Lee Deepens Special Bond with Lula

Menu for the Korea-Brazil presidential couples' social schedule. Photo by Blue House

On the 23rd, President Lee Jaemyung and the First Lady held a "chimaek (chicken and beer) gathering" with President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva of Brazil and the First Lady, who are on a state visit to Korea.

Kang Yoojung, spokesperson for the Blue House, announced this in a press notice that day. At Sangchunjae in the Blue House, where the social program was held, Korean-style fried chicken made with Brazilian chicken and a Brazilian chicken dish were served with draft beer.

At Sangchunjae, where the social event took place, gifts prepared by President Lee and the First Lady were put on display.

In addition to a tiger-and-magpie folk painting wishing for health and longevity, Korean cosmetics, national football team uniforms, Samsung mobile phones, beauty devices, and pet supplies, First Lady Kim Hye-kyung’s cookbook "Let’s Cook Rice," handwritten by her, was presented to President Lula and the First Lady.

Spokesperson Kang explained, "The dinner and social program proceeded in a warm and friendly atmosphere from start to finish, and President Lula reiterated his desire to invite President Lee to Brazil at an early date."

Yonhap News Agency

Meanwhile, the dinner held prior to the social program was attended by Blue House aides including Chief of Staff Kang Hoonshik, National Security Office Director Wi Sunglak, and policy chief Kim Yongbeom, as well as government officials such as Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Economy and Finance Koo Yooncheol, and Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Science and ICT Bae Kyunghoon.

From the business community, attendees included Samsung Group Chairman Lee Jaeyong, SK Group Chairman Chey Taewon, LG Group Chairman Koo Kwangmo, Hyundai Motor Group Chairman Chung Euisun, and CJ Group Chairman Sohn Kyungshik, who also serves as Chairman of the Korea Employers Federation. In addition, more than 120 figures from academia, culture, and friendship associations, including Daegu FC football player Cesinha and painter Lee Seungyeon, were present.

In his dinner speech, President Lee reflected on his days as a young factory worker and said, "The value of labor and human dignity that I learned through my own body became the driving force behind my desire for a better world." After mentioning Samsung, LG, and Hyundai Motor, he added that "our proud companies are also a key pillar of bilateral relations."

President Lula responded, "Ever since I came to know President Lee Jaemyung’s life trajectory, I have felt that we are like brothers."

He went on to stress, "Traditional politicians did not think we would ever become presidents," adding, "We were chased and persecuted, but we steadfastly walked our own path, and this represented the aspiration of the Brazilian and Korean people to build a better future."