President Lee Welcomes U.S. President Trump on State Visit... Fastest Mutual Visits in ROK-US History

Lee Jae-myung, President of the Republic of Korea, will welcome Donald Trump, President of the United States of America (U.S.A.), as a state guest for a two-day visit starting on the 29th.
This visit marks the completion of mutual presidential visits between the two countries just 147 days after the launch of the Lee administration, the shortest period in history. President Trump also becomes the first foreign leader to make two state visits to Korea.
The official state visit will begin with President Trump’s tour of the Gyeongju National Museum. He will enter under the escort of a traditional honor guard and be greeted by President Lee in front of the Millennium Smile Hall. The two leaders will then proceed inside, sign the guestbook, and view an exhibition of Trump memorabilia, followed by a one-on-one conversation.
During the official welcoming ceremony, the leaders will review the honor guard together and greet both delegations. After the greetings, President Trump will be awarded the Grand Order of Mugunghwa—the highest order of merit in Korea—for his contributions to peace on the Korean Peninsula and his role as a peacemaker, marking the first time a U.S. president has received this honor.
Following the award ceremony, the two leaders will view the Crown of Silla on display. To commemorate President Trump’s visit, President Lee has prepared a model of the Gold Crown from Cheonmachong Tomb as a gift. This symbolizes the long era of peace maintained by Silla and represents a new era of peaceful coexistence and joint growth between Korea and the U.S.A.
At the luncheon summit, attended by key cabinet members from both countries, the leaders will discuss trade, investment, economic security cooperation, modernization of the alliance, and the future direction of the ROK-US Alliance, including peace on the Korean Peninsula. Peace Lilies will be placed in the dining hall to symbolize hopes that President Trump’s efforts for global peace will also blossom on the Korean Peninsula.
The luncheon will begin with an appetizer featuring Thousand Island dressing, symbolizing President Trump’s success story in New York. The meal will continue with a three-course Korean menu tailored to President Trump’s preferences, including rice made with Gyeongju Freshly Harvested Rice and seasonal ingredients from across the country. The meal will conclude with a golden dessert, representing the peak of the ROK-US Alliance and a wish for lasting peace, reflecting the long-standing trust and future cooperation between the two nations.
In the evening, President Lee will host a special presidential banquet for President Trump and leaders from seven countries visiting for the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit week. Leaders from the U.S.A., Vietnam, Australia, New Zealand, Canada, Thailand, and Singapore will join President Lee to freely exchange views on economic cooperation in the Indo-Pacific region.
Through this banquet, the Korean government aims to further elevate its status as a key U.S. ally and strengthen its role as an agenda-setter leading regional cooperation discussions.
President Lee is expected to emphasize the growing importance of cooperation among regional countries amid shifting international dynamics and express Korea’s commitment to serving as an active bridge between leading technology nations and emerging markets in the region.
President Trump’s state visit is anticipated to further solidify the trust established between the two leaders during President Lee’s visit to the U.S.A. in August and to serve as an opportunity to achieve tangible outcomes in comprehensive cooperation between the two countries.

syj@fnnews.com Seo Young-jun Reporter