President Moon Wears Tie and Delivers Video Message on DJ's June 15 Joint Declaration Anniversary

Cheong "Necktie and solidarity are props symbolizing the journey of inter-Korean dialogue"

[Asia Economy Reporter Ryu Jeong-min] "The necktie worn by President Moon Jae-in in the video message is the ‘6.15 Necktie’ that the late former President Kim Dae-jung wore at the signing ceremony of the June 15 North-South Joint Declaration in 2000. It was provided by Democratic Party lawmaker Kim Hong-gul."

On the 15th, Blue House spokesperson Kang Min-seok explained this regarding President Moon’s video message commemorating the 20th anniversary of the June 15 North-South Joint Declaration.

[Image source=Yonhap News]

According to lawmaker Kim Hong-gul, the items used by former President Kim during his lifetime are still kept at his home in Donggyo-dong. Spokesperson Kang said, "After his passing (August 18, 2009), no one touched former President Kim’s wardrobe, but when lawmaker Kim opened the wardrobe door after 10 years and 10 months, the ‘2000 neckties’ were separately stored," adding, "Former President Kim attached special meaning to the neckties he wore at the summit meetings and kept them carefully during his lifetime."

Spokesperson Kang said, "Although some luster has faded over the long period, the blue color of the necktie, symbolizing the spirit of June 15, rather adds a subtle elegance." President Moon wore former President Kim’s necktie because lawmaker Kim sent it to the Blue House with the meaning of "carrying on the spirit of June 15." The 6.15 necktie is planned to be preserved at former President Kim’s memorial hall.

Spokesperson Kang explained, "The podium used by President Moon in the video message is the same podium used during the joint announcement of the Panmunjom Declaration on April 27, 2018. It has been kept at the historic site of Panmunjom since the 4.27 Declaration," adding, "The ‘Panmunjom podium’ is made of walnut wood, a material widely used in traditional Korean furniture, which is resistant to moisture and does not warp or crack. It is an ideal material to wish for a North-South relationship without bending or twisting."

[Image source=Yonhap News]

Spokesperson Kang said, "The necktie and podium symbolize the ‘journey of dialogue’ that North and South Korea have shared over 18 years, from the June 15 North-South Joint Declaration to the April 27 Panmunjom Declaration," and added, "It reflects President Moon’s belief that the June 15 North-South Joint Declaration must be thoroughly implemented and the April 27 Panmunjom Declaration must be observed."

Spokesperson Kang emphasized, "President Moon’s firm conviction is that the June 15 Declaration, the April 27 Panmunjom Declaration, and furthermore the September 19 Pyongyang Joint Declaration, which North and South have achieved through painstaking efforts, can never be reversed," and said, "As President Moon stated in his remarks at today’s Chief Presidential Secretary meeting, these are ‘shared assets of North and South Korea and the key to resolving the Korean Peninsula issue.’"

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.