Lee to Welcome Japan's Takaichi in Andong, Offering State-Visit-Level Courtesy

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[Financial News] President Lee Jae-myung and Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi will hold a summit and dinner in Andong, North Gyeongsang Province, on the 19th. The meeting is a return visit after Lee traveled to Nara Prefecture, Takaichi's hometown, in January. As the two countries move beyond shuttle diplomacy into what could be called home-town diplomacy, Lee is expected to greet Takaichi in person and extend hospitality comparable to that of a state visit. After the summit, the two leaders will dine on dishes made with ingredients from Andong and attend a traditional cultural performance together. By arranging the friendship schedule around visits to each other's hometowns, the two sides appear to be sending a message that Japan–South Korea relations, which have repeatedly swung between strain and recovery, should be managed stably on the basis of trust between leaders.
Presidential spokesperson Kang Yoo-jung said in a written briefing on the 17th that "Prime Minister Takaichi's visit to Korea this time will be the sixth Japan–South Korea summit since the launch of the Lee Jae-myung administration and the second shuttle diplomacy meeting this year, coming four months after the summit held in Nara Prefecture, Japan, on January 13."
The visit is a return trip to Andong, Lee's hometown, following Lee's visit to Takaichi's hometown in Nara Prefecture. Kang said, "We expect it to be a meaningful opportunity to deepen the strong trust and friendship between the leaders of the two countries."
The two leaders will hold a small-group summit, an expanded summit, a joint press statement and a dinner on the 19th, along with a separate friendship program. At the summit, they will discuss the future direction of Japan–South Korea relations and strengthen practical cooperation in a wide range of areas directly tied to people's livelihoods, including the economy, society and public safety. They will also discuss regional and global issues, including the Middle East, as uncertainty in the region remains. Issues surrounding the Strait of Hormuz, as well as energy and supply chains, are likely to be among the main topics. The summit is also drawing attention because it will take place immediately after the U.S.-China summit.
According to The Blue House, Takaichi will arrive at Daegu International Airport on the afternoon of the 19th and head to the hotel where the summit will take place. Lee will personally greet her at the entrance. The move is seen as taking into account the fact that Takaichi herself once made a surprise trip to Lee's lodging ahead of their summit in January. The Blue House will welcome Takaichi with honors comparable to a state visit, including a 12-member honor guard positioned on both sides of the hotel entrance. Although this is not an official state visit, the protocol and hospitality have been elevated as much as possible in light of the symbolism of reciprocal hometown visits by the two leaders.
The dinner following the joint press statement will feature fusion Korean cuisine incorporating dishes from Suunjapbang, a classic culinary text from an Andong noble family, along with Andong's traditional rice wine Taesaju, premium Andong Soju made with top-grade Andong rice, and sake from Nara Prefecture.
Kang said, "The special chicken dish 'Jeonggyea' reflects our hospitality toward Prime Minister Takaichi," adding that "grilled ribs made with Andong Hanu, Andong rice, and seafood sinseollo will express the scholar spirit of Andong, which holds that a gentleman should devote himself fully when receiving a friend." In addition, the Korean traditional dessert jeonyakgwa and the Japanese traditional dessert mochi will be served on the same plate to convey the hope that the two countries will come together and move toward a future-oriented relationship.
The Blue House said the dinner and cultural events are intended to highlight both Andong's traditions and the significance of cultural exchange between Japan and South Korea. After dinner, Lee and Takaichi will watch a piano performance by Yang Bang-ean, a Korean-Japanese pianist, as well as a trio performance featuring piano, violin and cello. They will then move to the ferry landing in Hahoe Folk Village to watch Seonyu Julbul Nori, a traditional performance specially prepared for Takaichi, along with a pansori performance titled "Scattered Like Flickering Flames."
cjk@fnnews.com Choi Jong-geun Reporter