Charles III Recited Yoon Dong-ju's Poem... Yoon Responded with Shakespeare

President Yoon Hosts State Dinner for King Charles III of the United Kingdom
"The UK is a Blood-Related Ally and Comrade"
King Charles III: "Amazed by Korea's Remarkable Journey"

President Yoon Suk-yeol and King Charles III of the United Kingdom confirmed the strong cooperation and friendship between the two countries during a state banquet on the 21st (local time). King Charles III welcomed the guests by reciting a verse from poet Yun Dong-ju's 'The Wind is Blowing,' translated into English, and President Yoon responded with a toast quoting the works of the great British playwright William Shakespeare.

At the state banquet hosted by King Charles III at Buckingham Palace in London that afternoon, President Yoon stated, "The Republic of Korea will steadfastly cooperate with the United Kingdom toward a future of global freedom, peace, and prosperity based on universal values of freedom, human rights, and the rule of law." This reaffirmed the future cooperation between the two countries following his speech at the UK Parliament. King Charles III also expressed his hope that "this occasion will serve to strengthen the friendship and trust between our two nations."

President Yoon Suk-yeol and his wife Kim Keon-hee, who are on a state visit to the United Kingdom, are entering the state banquet held at Buckingham Palace in London on the 21st (local time) together with King Charles III and Queen Camilla.
[Photo by Yonhap News]

President Yoon mentioned the UK's sacrifices, including its participation in the Korean War, since the establishment of diplomatic relations in 1883, emphasizing, "Korea and the UK are comrades-in-arms who shed blood to protect freedom. That is why there is nothing we cannot do together for the future."

He also praised the UK as the country that produced the great literary figure William Shakespeare, Isaac Newton who discovered the law of universal gravitation, and achieved parliamentary democracy and the Industrial Revolution, stating, "Now, both Korea and the UK are leading international discussions to establish new digital norms for artificial intelligence (AI) as digital innovation nations."

In this context, he said, "During my school days, I was enthusiastic about The Beatles, Queen, and Elton John. Recently, Korea's BTS and BLACKPINK have been loved by the British," and added, "The song 'My Universe,' sung together by Korea's BTS and the UK's Coldplay, has resonated with and been loved by young people worldwide," which received applause from the attendees.

King Charles III quoted a verse from Yun Dong-ju's 'The Wind is Blowing': "The wind keeps blowing, but my feet stand on the rock. The river keeps flowing, but my feet stand on the hill," and remarked, "Despite Korea undergoing bewilderingly rapid changes, preserving its sense of self may have been foretold by the poet Yun Dong-ju, who unfortunately passed away just before Korea's liberation."

He also highly praised Korea's prosperity in fields such as economy, science, natural environment, and culture, which emerged from barren land. King Charles III said, "We cannot help but be amazed at the splendid journey Korea has achieved during one person's lifetime, or rather, my own lifetime," and added, "The Korean people, who rose from the devastating circumstances of my childhood and post-war period, have achieved a miracle." He also recalled his visit to Korea in 1992, where he witnessed its development, and mentioned that the late Queen Elizabeth II was impressed by the beauty of traditional villages and temples in Andong during her visit in 1999.

More than 180 people, including major business leaders such as Samsung Electronics Chairman Lee Jae-yong, LG Group Chairman Koo Kwang-mo, and Lotte Group Chairman Shin Dong-bin, were invited to the banquet in addition to the official delegation. Also present were the four members of the globally popular K-pop idol group BLACKPINK and Oliver Kendall, who runs the YouTube channel 'Korean Englishman,' which promotes Korean culture in the UK.

The British royal family warmly welcomed President Yoon and his wife as the first state guests after King Charles III's coronation. The dinnerware used was made to commemorate the coronation of King George III in 1761, plated with gold and silver, and decorated with shell and bead patterns. The royal crest was engraved at the top of the plates.

The dessert dishes were made during Queen Victoria's reign in 1877, featuring turquoise borders decorated with floral patterns. The banquet menu included a tart made with poached eggs and spinach pur?e, pheasant breast served with celeriac croquettes and Calvados sauce, salad, and mango ice cream. The banquet hall was decorated with red-toned flowers and leaves directly brought from Windsor Castle. These flowers and trees were carefully selected as they bloom in November, the month of President Yoon's visit. During the banquet, the Duchess of Wessex's string orchestra performed, and at the end of the banquet, the sound of bagpipes, a traditional Scottish instrument, filled the air.

Earlier, President Yoon and his wife moved from their accommodation to the official welcoming ceremony site at Horse Guards Parade, using a Bentley vehicle provided by the British royal family, guided by Prince William and his wife. During President Yoon's movement, 41 gun salutes were fired. Upon arriving at London Stansted International Airport the previous day, President Yoon had also ridden in the 'Bentley State Limousine,' made for the late Queen Elizabeth II and King Charles III.

[Image source=Yonhap News]

Upon arrival at Horse Guards Parade, where the national anthem was played, President Yoon inspected the guard of honor with King Charles III. Afterwards, the two rode together in a golden carriage, traveling 1.6 km along Westminster Street to Buckingham Palace, where they had lunch together. First Lady Kim Keon-hee rode in a carriage with Queen Camilla, following the carriage carrying President Yoon and King Charles III.

After lunch, President Yoon exchanged orders and gifts with the King. The order President Yoon received was the Grand Cross of the Order of the Bath, the highest honor awarded to heads of state or foreign leaders visiting the UK on a state visit. He also viewed Korean-related artifacts in the Picture Gallery, including a letter sent by Emperor Gojong to Queen Victoria. According to major foreign media, King Charles III and Queen Camilla presented President Yoon and his wife with a copy of Winston Churchill's speech collection 'Stemming the Tide,' Scottish Laphroaig whiskey, and a pashmina (premium cashmere) embroidered with the hibiscus flower and the names of their pet dogs as gifts during the state visit.

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