Jill Biden: "My Friend Kim Geon-hee"... What About When the Japanese Prime Minister Visits the U.S.?

by Koo Nari

Published 27 Apr.2023 17:51(KST)

Updated 27 Apr.2023 18:52(KST)

Visit the National Art Museum Together and Upload Photos

On the 26th (local time), Mrs. Kim Geon-hee, the spouse of the South Korean president, and Dr. Jill Biden, the spouse of the U.S. president, visited the National Gallery of Art in Washington DC together.

Dr. Biden tweeted that day, "I was happy to tour the beautiful Rothko Gallery at the National Gallery of Art with my friend, Mrs. Kim." The tweet also included photos of Dr. Biden and Mrs. Kim exploring the National Gallery of Art.

On the 26th (local time), Kim Geon-hee, wife of President Yoon Suk-yeol, who is on a state visit to the United States, and Dr. Jill Biden, wife of U.S. President Joe Biden, are touring the Mark Rothko exhibition hall together inside the Washington National Gallery in Washington, DC.
Photo by Yonhap News

Earlier this month, when Yuko Kishida, wife of Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida, visited the U.S., Dr. Biden posted on her Twitter about planting a tree together. However, she did not use the term "friend" to describe Mrs. Yuko Kishida.

On the same day, during a small-scale summit held at the White House, President Joe Biden referred to President Yoon Suk-yeol as "my friend, the president." The use of such terms by President Joe Biden and Dr. Jill Biden was interpreted as reflecting the close relationship between the two countries' leaders.

Seemingly Considering Mrs. Kim's Past Planning

[Photo by Twitter capture]

Mrs. Kim had a connection with this National Gallery of Art during her past work as an exhibition planner. In 2015, when Mrs. Kim organized the Mark Rothko exhibition, the National Gallery of Art lent a large number of paintings to Korea for the first time. The exhibition "Mark Rothko, Loved by Steve Jobs," which Mrs. Kim planned, attracted 250,000 visitors over three months, achieving great success.

Previously, when President Biden visited Korea last year, Mrs. Kim reportedly gifted Dr. Biden a catalog and a lectern featuring Mark Rothko's works, as Dr. Biden was unable to visit Korea with the president.

There is also an interpretation that Dr. Biden prepared the schedule on this day considering these points.

The Schedule Proceeded in a Warm and Friendly Atmosphere

On the 25th (local time), Kim Keon-hee, wife of President Yoon Seok-yeol, who is on a state visit to the United States, is exchanging prepared gifts with Dr. Jill Biden, wife of U.S. President Joe Biden, at a social event held at the White House residence in Washington, DC.
Photo by Yonhap News

The two first ladies listened to explanations about the artworks from the National Gallery director and chief curator for about 50 minutes. After the schedule ended, Dr. Biden reportedly waved goodbye until Mrs. Kim left by car.

Meanwhile, Mrs. Kim and Dr. Biden exchanged gifts the day before. At a social event held at the White House residence, Dr. Biden presented Mrs. Kim with a necklace adorned with three blue sapphires. Sapphire is the birthstone for September, Mrs. Kim's birth month.