Yoon Surprises Reporters with a 'Sudden Greeting' on Board... First Lady Kim Takes a 'Selfie' Together (Comprehensive)

President Yoon Suk-yeol and his wife Kim Keon-hee gave a 'surprise greeting' to the press corps on the plane heading back to Korea after their state visit to the United States. President Yoon shook hands with reporters and encouraged them by saying, "You have worked hard." In particular, Mrs. Kim willingly responded to some reporters' requests for selfies.

[Image source=Yonhap News]

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On the morning of the 29th (local time), right after boarding Air Force One at Logan International Airport in Boston, Massachusetts, the Yoon presidential couple moved to the press section and greeted the reporters. Especially, when a reporter expressed disappointment by mentioning the joint press conference held at the White House Rose Garden on the 26th (local time), saying, "I raised my hand, but you did not point to me," President Yoon smiled and replied, "I was pointing in that direction, but it turned out that way."

Mrs. Kim also followed President Yoon around all the seats, greeting, "Thank you for your hard work," and when a reporter asked, "Did you sleep well?" she smiled and answered, "I slept plenty." After President Yoon passed by, Mrs. Kim responded to two or three selfie requests from reporters.

President Yoon Suk-yeol and First Lady Kim Keon-hee, having completed their state visit to the United States, are waving to the crowd as they disembark from Air Force One at Seongnam Seoul Airport on the 30th.
[Photo by Yonhap News]

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The two leaders of South Korea and the United States shared a consensus on 'peace through strength' during their meeting. President Yoon and U.S. President Joe Biden alternately issued warning messages to the North Korean regime during the summit and adopted the 'Washington Declaration' as a separate document to activate a new extended deterrence system. Above all, they formalized the establishment of a 'Nuclear Consultative Group (NCG)' to specifically operate the new extended deterrence system between the two countries. This is a cornerstone for sharing information on nuclear and strategic weapons operation plans in response to the North Korean threat and for jointly planning and executing operations that combine South Korea's advanced conventional forces with U.S. nuclear forces.

In the economic sector, the two leaders also expressed great expectations for synergy through cooperation. Regarding sensitive issues such as the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) and the CHIPS and Science Act (CSA), they chose consultation and coordination rather than immediate resolution. However, they placed a clear emphasis on strengthening strategic partnership. President Yoon said, "We agreed to conduct close consultations and coordination so that the U.S. IRA and CSA can further strengthen supply chain cooperation between the two countries in the advanced technology sector." President Biden also expressed confidence in a 'win-win' relationship with South Korea.

The joint address to the U.S. Congress, the first by a Korean president in 10 years since former President Park Geun-hye in 2013, and the first speech by a sitting Korean president at Harvard University, also left significant meaning during this state visit to the U.S. In his joint address to the U.S. Congress, where he became the seventh Korean president to speak, he mentioned freedom 46 times and emphasized becoming the 'compass of freedom' alongside the United States. In his Harvard speech, he stated, "Anti-intellectualism, such as false agitation and fake news, threatens and endangers freedom and democracy," and added, "To defend freedom and democracy against these, courage and solidarity are necessary."

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