President Yoon Suk Yeol will host Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and his wife on November 3 for an official welcome ceremony, bilateral talks, and a state dinner.
Kim Sung-wan, spokesperson for the Blue House, stated in a written briefing that special honors and hospitality events have been prepared to commemorate the long-standing friendship between the two nations.
The two leaders will review the progress of cooperation initiatives established during President Yoon's state visit to Turkey last November and discuss ways to expand collaboration in trade, investment, nuclear energy, defense, and future industries such as biotechnology, energy, and science and technology.
This marks President Erdogan's first state visit to South Korea in eight years, and it is the first meeting between the two leaders since the NATO summit in July.
The government will display a welcome video on a large screen along Sejong-daero and present a welcome message through media facades at Lotte World Tower and Namsan Seoul Tower. As President Erdogan arrives at the Blue House, a traditional honor guard and a military band will escort him with around 70 personnel, and a total of about 280 members of the armed forces will be present at the official welcome ceremony.
During the official welcome ceremony, a special performance will be given by over 30 members of the Army Taekwondo Demonstration Team. This is the first time a Taekwondo demonstration has been included in the official welcome ceremony. Established in January, the Army Taekwondo Demonstration Team showcases high-level breaking, Taekwondo gymnastics, and special performances to promote the strong image of Taekwondo and the military.
Following the summit, a state dinner will be attended by more than 80 dignitaries from both countries. Notable attendees from the business sector include Chung Eui-sun, chairman of Hyundai Motor Group, and Jeong In-hwa, chairman of POSCO Group. Yang Young-an, a firefighter who participated in rescue operations during the 2023 Turkey earthquake, has also been invited.
The dinner will feature Korean cuisine reinterpreted with traditional Turkish culinary elements. A snack made of cheese wrapped in dried persimmon, favored by President Erdogan, and a crab salad using pomegranate, a symbol of abundance and hospitality in Turkey, will be served.
The main dish will consist of halal-certified ribs marinated in Korean seasoning and prepared using Turkish kebab techniques. Bibimbap made with native rice and clear soup will symbolize the long-standing trust and friendship between the two nations through the harmony of diverse ingredients.
For dessert, honey-glazed chestnut rice cake and rice ice cream from Yongin will be offered. Yongin is significant as the site where Turkish troops served during the Korean War, and a memorial has been established there, reflecting the historical ties between the two countries.
The dinner performance will reflect the relationship between the two nations, recalling the Korean War and the 2002 World Cup. Turkish haegeum player Tam Je-bdeut and the National Gugak Center Creative Orchestra will perform "Chusang" and the Turkish folk song "Viskidara Gider Iken."
Popera singer Lee Seung-hoon and the vocal duo Hundo, consisting of Do Jin-soo, will present "Champion," symbolizing the friendship between Korea and Turkey during the 2002 World Cup, along with the Turkish traditional folk song "Sar Gelin."
President Yoon will present President Erdogan with a set of red ginseng gifts and a South Korean national basketball team uniform. The front of the uniform features the flags of both countries, while the back displays President Erdogan's name and the year of diplomatic relations, "1957."
First Lady Emine Erdogan will receive a celadon tea set shaped like a lotus flower and a copy of Kim Hye-kyung's book "Cooking Rice." The Blue House noted that the gifts reflect the tea culture of Turkey and Emine Erdogan's interest in food culture and cuisine.
* This article has been translated by AI.
Copyright ⓒ Aju Press All rights reserved.