'American Pie' Spreads in Vilnius... US Lawmaker's Group Singing Cheers Citizens Too

Meeting During a Walk in Lithuania... "Looking Forward to the Reception"
First Schedule of the Tour Includes Meeting with U.S. Senate Delegation

President Yoon Suk-yeol, who arrived in Vilnius, Lithuania on the 10th (local time) to attend the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) summit, sang "American Pie" together with a group of U.S. senators he met during a walk. President Yoon had scheduled a meeting with the U.S. Senate delegation as his first agenda in Lithuania.

That evening, while taking a walk in Vilnius Old Town to adjust to the time difference and manage his condition, President Yoon had a surprise encounter with Senator Pete Ricketts, who was dining outdoors at a restaurant. During the meal, Senator Ricketts approached President Yoon and said, "Thank you for your wonderful congressional speech during your state visit to the U.S. last April," adding, "I look forward to our meeting tomorrow morning."

President Yoon Suk-yeol and First Lady Kim Keon-hee, who are visiting Lithuania to attend the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) summit, are taking a walk in the old town of Vilnius on the 10th (local time).
[Photo by Yonhap News]

In particular, the U.S. delegation dining with Senator Ricketts sang "American Pie," which President Yoon had sung during his previous meeting with U.S. President Joe Biden in Washington. Citizens of Vilnius also recognized President Yoon, waved their hands, and sang along. Earlier, at a dinner following the Washington talks with President Biden, President Yoon requested piano accompaniment and passionately sang the opening verse of "American Pie" for about 55 seconds. When President Yoon finished singing, the guests stood up and gave a standing ovation, and President Biden showed warmth by putting his arm around President Yoon’s shoulder.

During this NATO visit, President Yoon will again meet first with the U.S. Senate delegation to discuss security, the Korea-U.S. relationship, and other matters. These senators attended the joint congressional speech and state dinner during President Yoon’s previous state visit and are known to prioritize cooperation between the U.S. and NATO.

Meanwhile, during his walk, President Yoon also encountered Charles Michel, the President of the European Council, and his spouse. President Michel expressed gratitude for the warm welcome he received during his visit to Korea last May, saying, "I talked a lot with my wife about the conversations we had with President Yoon during that visit." President Michel attracted attention by posting a photo of his visit to Panmunjom on Twitter, writing, "The Demilitarized Zone (DMZ) is a wound on the Korean Peninsula. Generations have been torn apart. The desire for freedom will only grow stronger." At that time, President Michel stated, "North Korea’s nuclear armament threatens peace in the region."

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