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South Korea
AsiaEast Asia

Britain’s King Charles welcomes South Korea’s Yoon, mingles with K-pop band Blackpink

  • The UK government hopes the Korean leader’s three-day visit will help cement an ‘Indo-Pacific tilt’ in its foreign and trade policy
  • Yoon and British PM Rishi Sunak are expected to sign an agreement covering cooperation in defence and technology, including artificial intelligence

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South Korean President Yoon Suk-yeol listens as Britain’s King Charles speaks at a state banquet on Tuesday. Photo: PA Wire via dpa
Associated Press
Britain’s King Charles hosted South Korean President Yoon Suk-yeol and his wife at a glittering banquet at Buckingham Palace on Tuesday, as London rolled out the red carpet for a formal state visit aimed at strengthening trade and defence ties between the two countries.
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The UK government hopes the Korean leader’s three-day visit will help cement an “Indo-Pacific tilt” in its foreign and trade policy.

The king and Queen Camilla hosted Yoon and first lady Kim Keon-hee at a sumptuous white tie and tiara banquet at Buckingham Palace, where Charles paid tribute to South Korea’s political and economic advances and celebrated its culture. The monarch even singled out for praise the K-pop girl group Blackpink, whose members were among more than 170 guests in the grand ballroom.

“I applaud Jennie, Jisoo, Lisa and Rose, better known collectively as Blackpink, for their role in bringing the message of environmental sustainability to a global audience,” Charles said in his banquet speech. “I can only admire how they can prioritise these vital issues, as well as being global superstars.”

“Sadly, when I was in Seoul all those years ago, I am not sure I developed much of what might be called the Gangnam Style!” he joked, referring to the global hit song by Korean rapper Psy.

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Camilla donned the late Queen Elizabeth’s ruby and diamond Burmese tiara and a red gown for the occasion, while Kate, the Princess of Wales, chose a white gown paired with what’s known as the Strathmore Rose tiara. The headpiece had belonged to Elizabeth’s mother, known as the Queen Mother.

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