Kim Hye-kyung invited the First Ladies of Uzbekistan and Kyrgyzstan to the Blue House's Sangchunjae for a cultural experience during their visit for the Korea-Central Asia Summit.
In a written briefing on the 16th, Deputy Spokesperson Ahn Gwi-ryeong stated that Kim hosted a spouses program with Uzbekistan's First Lady Ziroat Mirziyoeva and Kyrgyzstan's First Lady Aigul Japarova.
The event aimed to strengthen camaraderie among the spouses of the leaders and introduce Korean traditional culture.
Kim described Sangchunjae as a space that means "a house where spring always resides," emphasizing the warm welcome extended to distinguished diplomatic guests. She expressed hope that the meeting would deepen the friendship and valuable ties between Korea and Central Asia.
The three women experienced a traditional Korean tea ceremony guided by a tea expert, tasting traditional tea and snacks. Kim noted, "The process of slowly brewing and carefully serving tea embodies respect and consideration for others," adding, "I hope that sharing a cup of tea today will further strengthen the friendship among our three countries."
Mirziyoeva shared that Uzbekistan also has a culture of drinking tea and conversing with family and friends, while Japarova mentioned Kyrgyzstan's tradition of welcoming guests with tea. The three agreed that the culture of sharing through tea is a common thread among their nations.
They also showed interest in traditional Korean snacks like yakgwa and juak, as well as Korean tableware and ceramics, discussing Korean culinary culture and crafts. Mirziyoeva mentioned having seen Kim's cookbook, which helped her understand Korean ingredients and cooking methods.
Following the tea ceremony, the National Gugak Center's dance troupe performed "Taepyeongmu" and "Hanryangmu," accompanied by traditional music from the National Gugak Center. Kim remarked, "Both Korea and Central Asia have preserved community memories and aspirations through dance and music," expressing hope that this would be an opportunity to broaden understanding and interest in each other's traditional cultures.
Mirziyoeva reflected, "I felt once again that Korea and Central Asia have many similarities," while Japarova noted her impression of Korea's efforts to preserve and pass on its traditional culture.
* This article has been translated by AI.
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