President Lee to hold summit with Türkiye’s president; Euisun Chung among dinner guests

[Financial News] President Lee Jae-myung will hold summit talks on the 3rd with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, who is arriving in South Korea on a state visit, to discuss ways to develop relations between the two countries. They are also expected to exchange views on expanding cooperation in areas such as nuclear power and the defense industry, as well as key international issues including the situations on the Korean Peninsula and in the Middle East. Business leaders, including Hyundai Motor Group Chair Euisun Chung, and firefighters who took part in rescue efforts to save survivors after the major earthquake in Türkiye will attend the state dinner that follows.
Cheong Wa Dae spokesperson Kim Seong-wan said in a written briefing today that President Lee would welcome President Erdoğan and Erdoğan’s spouse and take part in a schedule that includes an official welcome ceremony, summit talks and a state dinner. To mark the two countries’ longstanding friendship, the government has prepared everything from a welcome video in downtown Seoul to special performances and customized gifts.
Around 80 figures from various sectors of both countries will attend the state dinner following the summit. Business leaders attending include Hyundai Motor Group Chair Euisun Chung, POSCO Group Chair Chang In-hwa and Hyundai Rotem CEO Lee Yong-bae.
Fire Captain Yang Yeong-an, who served as leader of Rescue Team 4 in the first contingent of the emergency rescue team during the 2023 major earthquake in Türkiye, was also invited.
The dinner will feature Korean cuisine that reflects Türkiye’s traditional food culture while using Korean ingredients and cooking methods. Performers will include Turkish haegeum player Tam Cevdet, the National Gugak Center Creative Orchestra and Korean vocal duo Hundu. The dinner is set to conclude with a performance looking back on the ties forged through the Korean War and the 2002 FIFA World Cup.
The official welcome ceremony at Cheong Wa Dae will feature both a traditional honor guard and a taekwondo performance. As President Erdoğan’s entourage arrives at Cheong Wa Dae, around 70 people, including members of the traditional honor guard and a chwitadae (traditional military band), will escort the vehicles, while around 280 people, including honor guards from all three branches of the armed forces, will line up to welcome the state guest.
In particular, around 30 members of the Army Taekwondo Demonstration Team will give a special performance. In downtown Seoul, a welcome video will be shown on large screens along Sejong-daero, and welcome messages will be displayed on the media façades of Lotte World Tower and Namsan Seoul Tower.
The gifts for President Erdoğan were chosen to reflect his personal hobbies and interests. President Lee prepared a Korean national basketball team jersey for Erdoğan, who enjoys basketball. The flags of both countries are on the front, while the back bears Erdoğan’s name and ‘1957,’ the year the two countries established diplomatic relations. A gift set of red ginseng, chosen with his health in mind, was also prepared.

[email protected] Choi Jong-geun Reporter