President Lee Hosts Diplomatic Corps for Dinner Featuring Korean Delicacies

President Lee Jae-myung hosted a dinner at the Cheong Wa Dae's Nokjiwon garden for the diplomatic corps stationed in South Korea, bringing together representatives from 118 countries. The event served as a platform to share diplomatic accomplishments and foster closer cooperation with the international community.

In his address, President Lee highlighted South Korea's growing role on the global stage, noting its participation in the Group of Seven (G7) summits for two consecutive years and its positioning as a responsible international partner. He emphasized the nation's commitment to collaborating with the global community based on shared values of freedom, peace, and prosperity. The President also acknowledged the crucial role of the diplomats, referring to them as a "bridge" connecting their home countries with South Korea, which has enabled active summit diplomacy.

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South Korea has participated in the Group of Seven (G7) Summit for two consecutive years and has established itself as a responsible partner in the international community.

Expressing a willingness to engage directly, President Lee invited feedback from the attendees, stating, "You likely have many things you want to say to the South Korean government, and perhaps things you want to tell the Presidential Office directly. Incidentally, I surprisingly have a lot of free time." He also proposed a toast, inviting diplomats to offer cheers in their respective languages while he led in Korean.

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The active summit diplomacy was possible because you faithfully served as a bridge between your countries and South Korea.

The dinner saw the presence of ambassadors from 118 countries, including the Dean of the Diplomatic Corps, Moroccan Ambassador Shafiq Rachadi, as well as representatives from 30 international organizations. Special guests at the head table included ambassadors from Morocco, the United States, Japan, the Philippines, New Zealand, Mongolia, China, the European Union (EU), the Holy See, and Chile, reflecting a deliberate selection based on significant diplomatic engagement with South Korea.

The menu offered a buffet-style selection of Korean cuisine, including Korean-style charcoal-grilled meats, 'chimaek' (fried chicken and beer), fresh kimchi, and ssam-bap (rice wraps). Various options were available, such as grilled pork belly on a cast-iron skillet, charcoal-grilled Wagyu beef, LA-style marinated ribs, lamb ribs, king prawns, chicken sausages, and vegetables. Notably, all ingredients, except for the pork belly, were Halal-certified, and vegetarian and vegan options were also provided to accommodate diverse dietary preferences.

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You likely have many things you want to say to the South Korean government, and perhaps things you want to tell the Presidential Office directly. Incidentally, I surprisingly have a lot of free time.