First lady Kim Keon Hee (center of front row) and Lithuanian students of Korean on July 11 pose for a photo at the King Sejong Institute branch housed at Mykolas Romeris University in Vilnius, Lithuania.
By Wu Jinhua
Photos = Office of the President
First lady Kim Keon Hee has visited the King Sejong Institute branch in Vilnius, Lithuania, while accompanying President Yoon Suk Yeol to the Baltic country to attend the NATO Summit.
Presidential spokesperson Lee Do Woon on July 12 said in a news release that the first lady the day before visited the Korean-language institute at Mykolas Romeris University (MRU) and had a “meaningful meeting” with the students there.
Speaking Korean, the students shared their experiences in learning the language, living in Korea as exchange students and winning awards at K-pop contests.
“Meeting Lithuania’s future generation through the medium of the Korean language is meaningful,” the first lady said. “I expect relations between Korea and Lithuania to grow stronger through all of you, who symbolize exchange between both countries.”
“Hearing in Korean your stories about why you love Korea struck a bigger chord with me,” she added, thanking the students.
Earlier, the first lady held talks with MRU Rector (President) Inga Zaleniene and the institute’s director.
“Global interest in Korean culture is surprisingly high, especially among youth,” she said. “I’ll strive to promote more language exchange programs between students of both countries.”
Zaleniene expressed her hope for the establishment of a Korean embassy in her nation, to which the first lady replied by saying, “I will maintain continuous interest.”
As gifts to the rector, the first lady gave keychains inscribed with the slogans “Busan Is Ready” and “Hip Korea” to promote Busan’s bid to host the 2030 World Expo.
First lady Kim Keon Hee (right) and Mykolas Romeris University Rector (President) Inga Zaleniene on July 11 hold dolls of the seagull Boogi, the official mascot of Busan’s bid for the 2030 World Expo.
jane0614@korea.kr
