"Crying and Crossing Bakdaljae," "The Third Hangang Bridge," and the Largest Taegeukgi... "Exceptional and Meticulous Preparations"

President Lee's State Visit
Large Taegeukgi Displays at UAE Ministry of Interior and Burj Khalifa
President Mohammed Personally Prepares Middle Eastern-Style Breakfast; Korean Ingredients Featured at Luncheon
President Lee Presents 'Falcon' Sculpture; Traditional Handicraft 'Nopun Nayeham' Gifted to First Lady

The United Arab Emirates (UAE) welcomed President Lee Jaemyung, who was on a state visit, with grand displays, including large Taegeukgi (Korean national flag) light projections and customized music, showing the utmost respect.

Yonhap News Agency

On the 18th (local time), Kim Namjoon, spokesperson for the presidential office, stated in a briefing, "It was a state summit that highlighted the UAE's exceptional hospitality," adding, "Meticulous preparations were evident everywhere." That evening, the world's tallest building, the Burj Khalifa in Dubai, was scheduled to display a Taegeukgi banner lighting.

For breakfast, President Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan of the UAE personally prepared a Middle Eastern-style meal for President Lee and First Lady Kim Hyekyung, including a basket of vegetables, hummus, and cake. During the summit, President Lee mentioned this gesture, expressing his gratitude by saying, "I enjoyed the meal very much."

At the luncheon following the summit, a menu featuring Korean ingredients was served. The UAE military band performed classic Korean songs, such as Na Hoon-a's "Crying and Crossing Bakdaljae" and Hye Eun-i's "The Third Hangang Bridge." Spokesperson Kim explained, "Bakdaljae is a song about a place in North Chungcheong Province, the First Lady's hometown," and added, "The Third Hangang Bridge was performed to symbolize a 'bridge' between Korea and the UAE." During the summit, President Mohammed also shared an anecdote about how his late father, the founding president, chose a Korean company to build a bridge in Abu Dhabi.

Spokesperson Kim also highlighted the 21-gun salute, the air show by the air force demonstration team, and the traditional performance of "Al Ayala" presented by the UAE when President Lee entered the presidential palace, as particularly impressive gestures of hospitality.

Yonhap News Agency

On this day, as a token of appreciation, President Lee presented President Mohammed with a falcon sculpture. The falcon is a symbolic animal in the UAE, appearing on the national emblem and currency, and is also the name of the UAE's representative Arabic large language model (LLM). The presidential office explained, "We also considered that President Mohammed personally enjoys falconry," and described the gift as "embodying the insight of both leaders, their dedication to their people, and a vision for the future." For President Mohammed's wife, Salama, a traditional handcrafted lacquerware box called "Nopun Nayeham" (meaning 'as beautiful as a butterfly') was gifted, while his mother, Fatima, received "Gungjungmaeyeong," a traditional floral jewelry craft.

Meanwhile, at the suggestion of the UAE, President Lee met with workers at the Barakah Nuclear Power Plant, a symbol of bilateral nuclear cooperation, prior to the luncheon. The previous evening, the UAE also raised the largest Taegeukgi ever in front of the Ministry of Interior building, and illuminated the exteriors of major city institutions, such as the headquarters of Abu Dhabi National Oil Company (ADNOC), with Taegeukgi-shaped lights. Additionally, the UAE designated Khaldoon Khalifa Al Mubarak, Chairman of the Abu Dhabi Executive Affairs Authority, and Maitha bint Salem Al Shamsi, Minister of State, as "honor escorts" to accompany President Lee throughout his state visit.

Yonhap News Agency