Yoon Holding Grape Juice Receives 'Zero Cola' from Biden... Exchange of Gifts Between the Two Leaders

President Biden and First Lady Personally Guide Through White House Residence
Gifts to Yoon Couple Include Small Table, Vase, Necklace, Baseball Glove
Yoon Invites Biden to Hannam-dong Residence When Visiting Korea

During their state visit to the United States, President Yoon Suk-yeol and First Lady Kim Keon-hee spent a friendly time with President Joe Biden and the First Lady at the White House presidential residence on the 25th (local time).

[Image source=Yonhap News]

Lee Do-woon, spokesperson for the Presidential Office, stated during a briefing at the press center set up in Washington DC that President Biden and the First Lady welcomed President Yoon and his wife at the White House residence in the late afternoon and personally guided them through the interior spaces.

President Biden personally guiding the presidential residence, which is the president's living quarters, is interpreted as a gesture of welcome to the state guests, President Yoon and his wife.

A senior official from the Presidential Office also shared an anecdote during the briefing about President Biden offering President Yoon a Zero Cola. The official said, "While the two presidential couples were having refreshments, the moment President Yoon reached for grape juice, President Biden said, 'Here is President Yoon’s drink,' and offered him a Zero Cola. This led to smiles being exchanged for a while."

[Image source=Yonhap News]

The official explained that President Biden had carefully noted that President Yoon usually enjoys Zero Cola. In fact, last June, President Yoon attracted attention when he visited a movie theater with First Lady Kim and ordered, "Please give me Zero Cola."

The presidential couple signed the guestbook and a photo album commemorating the 70th anniversary of the alliance in the Blue Room and also spent time together enjoying the view of the Washington surroundings from the balcony. President Yoon wrote in the guestbook, "For our global alliance contributing to world peace and prosperity."

President Biden warmly welcomed them, saying, "We welcome President Yoon’s state visit. We are pleased to invite such distinguished guests to this precious space and to have the opportunity to get to know each other better in a comfortable atmosphere."

President Yoon expressed his gratitude and responded, "I feel a greater sense of closeness after learning that both presidential couples live with pets, including dogs and cats." He also conveyed his intention, saying, "I would like to invite President Biden and the First Lady to the (Hannam-dong) residence when they visit Korea together someday."

[Image source=Yonhap News]

The two leaders also exchanged gifts. President Biden and the First Lady presented a small table, a vase, and a necklace. The White House, in a related press release, introduced that the small table was made of mahogany wood with patterns engraved from a historic White House tree and was inspired by the traditional Korean soban (small table). The gifts also included a brass plaque commemorating the state visit and a vase containing hibiscus and roses made of paper by a Korean-American artist.

First Lady Biden gifted First Lady Kim a necklace adorned with three blue sapphires designed by a Korean-American. The sapphires are the birthstones for September, which is First Lady Kim’s birth month. President Biden, a baseball enthusiast, also prepared a vintage baseball collection consisting of a bat, glove, and ball used by professional baseball players, which drew attention. The collection was displayed in a large frame featuring the logo of the Philadelphia Phillies of Major League Baseball. President Yoon and the First Lady presented gifts including a moon jar, a jokduri (traditional Korean bridal crown) decorated with jewels, and a silver tableware set consisting of a kettle and cups.

First Lady Biden’s motto, "Just be yourself," was mentioned again. When First Lady Biden met First Lady Kim in Spain last June during the NATO summit, she advised, "When you reach a high position, many people around you will give advice, but what matters is your own thoughts and will."

According to a Presidential Office official, First Lady Biden said on this day as well, "It has not been easy to maintain my career while supporting my husband, but I gain strength by thinking about this principle I keep in my heart," adding, "When times are tough, having a principle like this can be a comfort."

When First Lady Kim addressed First Lady Biden as "Doctor," she reportedly asked to be called comfortably and inquired about the difficulties of being a First Lady.

It is known that no separate meal was held between the two leaders on this day.

[Image source=Yonhap News]

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