First lady Kim Hye-kyung, wife of President Lee Jae-myung, met on the 14th with Ziroatkhon Mirziyoyeva, wife of Uzbek President Shavkat Mirziyoyev, who is in South Korea on a state visit, and spent time discussing cultural exchange between the two countries.
Kim escorted Mirziyoyeva and her second daughter to the National Palace Museum of Korea at Gyeongbokgung Palace in Seoul's Jongno district, where they viewed major artifacts illustrating the history and culture of the Joseon royal court and the imperial household of the Korean Empire, Presidential Office deputy spokesperson Ahn Gwi-ryeong said in a written briefing. The two viewed court attire, royal embroidery, furniture and other crafts, then held tea and talked about topics ranging from cultural exchange to advanced technology and education.
During the tour, Kim highlighted the quality of traditional hanji paper to Mirziyoyeva, who marveled at the pristine condition of the royal annals, and explained the meaning behind the colors and patterns of court attire. Mirziyoyeva said she was deeply impressed by South Korea's rapid technological advances, including in artificial intelligence, and that cooperation with the country in education was helping Uzbekistan develop.
Kim replied that she found it rewarding to hear that South Korea's experience was proving useful, and said she hoped the two countries would share their respective strengths and grow together.
When Mirziyoyeva noted the strong interest in Korean culture in Uzbekistan and described the past popularity of the television drama "Dae Jang Geum," Kim responded that culture has great power to bring nations closer together, adding that she hoped exchange and cooperation would deepen not only in culture but across advanced technology, education and other fields.
Mirziyoyeva's second daughter, who lived in Seoul from 2011 to 2016, said her time in South Korea remained a fond memory and that her younger sister was studying Korean and hoped to study in the country. Kim said she was glad the ties with South Korea were carrying into the next generation and expressed hope that the daughter would serve as a bridge between South Korea and Uzbekistan.
