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๐Ÿ‡ฐ๐Ÿ‡ท South Korea /Elections & Politics

President Lee concludes U.S. visit with public engagement in San Francisco

From Hankyoreh · () Korean

Translated from Korean, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

News Named sources Context piece
  • South Korean President Lee Jae-myung concluded his U.S. visit by interacting with citizens and tourists at San Francisco's Pier 39.
  • The visit aimed to foster goodwill and direct communication with people from various backgrounds.
  • President Lee is scheduled to make state visits to Brazil, Chile, and Argentina before returning to South Korea.

South Korean President Lee Jae-myung concluded his U.S. tour with an informal visit to San Francisco's popular Pier 39, engaging with local residents and international tourists. Accompanied by First Lady Kim Hye-kyung, the president explored the revitalized waterfront area, which was once an industrial pier and is now a vibrant hub of marine life, shops, and entertainment.

Welcome

โ€” Local citizens and touristsGreeting President Lee Jae-myung and First Lady Kim Hye-kyung at Pier 39.

During their visit, the presidential couple received warm welcomes, with many expressing their greetings in Korean and English. One tourist shared her daughter's interest in studying in Korea, prompting a photo opportunity with the president and first lady. The visit to Pier 39 was designed to move beyond formal settings and allow for natural interaction and communication with the public.

Nice to meet you

โ€” Local citizens and touristsGreeting President Lee Jae-myung and First Lady Kim Hye-kyung at Pier 39.

An official statement highlighted that the exchanges between the presidential couple and the diverse crowd of citizens and tourists served to deepen friendly relations between South Korea and the United States. Following his San Francisco engagements, President Lee was set to embark on state visits to Brazil, Chile, and Argentina, continuing his international diplomatic efforts.

Hello

โ€” Local citizens and touristsGreeting President Lee Jae-myung and First Lady Kim Hye-kyung in Korean at Pier 39.

President Lee's itinerary includes a state visit to Brazil from July 26-29, followed by an official visit to Chile and a historic trip to Argentina, marking the first official visit in 22 years. He is expected to conclude his overseas trip with a meeting with the Korean diaspora in Frankfurt, Germany, before returning home.

This visit was arranged to naturally interact within the daily lives of local citizens and communicate directly with tourists from around the world, moving beyond formal official venues.

โ€” Ahn Gwi-ryeongDeputy Spokesperson Ahn Gwi-ryeong explained the purpose of President Lee's visit to Pier 39.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by Hankyoreh in Korean. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.