President Lee Jae Myung received Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi, who visited his hometown of Andong in North Gyeongsang Province, with courtesies comparable to a state visit. Four months after their last meeting at the Korea-Japan summit in Nara Prefecture in January, the two leaders met again, wearing a sky-blue tie and a sky-blue jacket respectively, and carried out the summit and social schedule. They also shared a dinner of Andong jjimdak and watched the traditional rope-fire performance at Hahoe Village.

At around 1:40 p.m. on the 19th, President Lee greeted Prime Minister Takaichi at the entrance of a hotel in downtown Andong that served as the summit venue. President Lee said, “Thank you for going through so much to come all the way to this rural small city,” and, “I had been waiting since last night.” Pointing to the chuita band and the traditional honor guard, Prime Minister Takaichi praised, “Splendid,” and, with a broad smile, repeatedly said, “Thank you.”

President Lee wore a sky-blue tie similar in color to the suit worn by Prime Minister Takaichi. The Blue House said, “A sky-blue tie in the blue family that Prime Minister Takaichi often wears was chosen,” adding, “It embodies respect and trust.”

In his opening remarks at the summit, President Lee said, “When I visited Nara, your hometown, last January, I received truly exceptional hospitality,” and, “It is truly meaningful and an honor to host you here in Andong, where I was born and raised.” Prime Minister Takaichi responded, “I am very pleased that we can put shuttle diplomacy into practice here in Andong, President Lee’s hometown.”

Including both a small-group meeting and an expanded session, the leaders held a 105-minute summit, followed by a joint press announcement.

The two leaders then continued with dinner. The dinner featured fusion Korean cuisine, including Andong jjimdak combined with dishes that appear in the cookbook <Suun Japbang> from Andong lineage households. For the dinner drinks, traditional liquors from Andong, Taesaju and Andong soju, were served along with sake from Nara Prefecture, the hometown of the prime minister.

According to a written briefing by Blue House Chief Spokesperson Kang Yu-jung, President Lee said the courses were prepared entirely without red chili powder for Prime Minister Takaichi, and introduced Andong as an inland region where fresh ingredients were scarce in the past. When Prime Minister Takaichi said, “I have a parliamentary schedule tomorrow, so I was very unsure whether to drink,” President Lee joked, “Shall I call so you can stay one more day?” drawing laughter.

Prime Minister Takaichi proposed, “I would like the next round of shuttle diplomacy to continue in a local hot-spring city in Japan,” and President Lee replied, “If I say I will go to a hot spring, will it be arranged right away?” Prime Minister Takaichi said she was deeply impressed by the Andong citizens who welcomed them along the streets. She also showed keen interest in the petroleum price cap and consumption coupons implemented by South Korea.

After dinner, the two leaders enjoyed a piano performance by Japan-based ethnic Korean pianist Yang Bang-eon and a trio performance for piano, violin, and cello. They then moved to the ferry dock at Hahoe Village to watch Seonyu Julbulnori, a traditional Andong cultural performance.