First Lady Kim Geon-hee Holds Talks with German President's Wife... Requests Cooperation on Cultural Heritage Return

"I hope the return of cultural assets remaining in Germany continues next year"

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Eunmo Koo] First Lady Kim Keon-hee conveyed her hope on the 4th that the return of cultural properties remaining in Germany will continue next year as she held talks with Elke B?denbender, wife of German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier, who officially visited Korea.

On the 4th, Cheon Hyo-jung, deputy spokesperson of the presidential office, stated in a briefing that First Lady Kim met with Mrs. B?denbender for about an hour in the morning at the Yongsan Presidential Office. Mrs. B?denbender first expressed her condolences and sympathy regarding the Itaewon tragedy, and First Lady Kim expressed her deep gratitude, Cheon said.

First Lady Kim especially said, "We welcome Germany's continued return of our cultural properties so far, and we hope that the return of cultural properties still remaining in Germany will continue next year." In response, Mrs. B?denbender replied, "The return of cultural properties is something that must rightfully be done," adding, "We will continue to take an interest and cooperate."

The two ladies also agreed on the necessity of human and cultural exchanges between the two countries in celebration of the 140th anniversary of Korea-Germany relations next year. First Lady Kim said, "Next year marks the 60th anniversary of the dispatch of nurses to Germany, and I hope there will be an opportunity to meet the dispatched nurses who greatly contributed to mutual understanding between the two countries."

Mrs. B?denbender shared a story about a Korean nurse who took care of her grandmother, saying, "Germans always have a grateful heart toward Korean nurses," and added, "I sincerely hope there will be such a meeting."

First Lady Kim mentioned that Mrs. B?denbender will visit Busan on the 5th and introduced the Korean government's will and efforts to host the 2030 Busan World Expo, to which Mrs. B?denbender showed deep interest, Cheon said.

First Lady Kim's solo high-level diplomatic schedule was about two months after she viewed artworks at the National Gallery with Sophie Gr?goire Trudeau, wife of Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, during her tour of the UK, the US, and Canada last September.

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