ⓒ JoongAng Ilbo / JoongAng Ilbo Japanese version2023.03.14 07:07
It was revealed on the 13th that President Yoon Seok-yeol, who will visit Japan on the 16th of this month, will have two dinners with Prime Minister Fumio Kishida in the evening of the same day. It is unprecedented for the leaders of South Korea and Japan to have two dinners in one day, not only during the shuttle summit, but also during state visits and official visits.
Diplomatic sources said that President Yoon, who will visit Japan for two days and one night, will hold a joint press conference after meeting with Prime Minister Kishida for a summit. After that, a dinner party will be held, and it is said that the Japanese side prepared two dinners, which was unusual. One of the two banquets held in the center of Tokyo is said to have been decided by Japan in consideration of President Yoon. When President Yoon met with Japanese officials before he took office, he said, “I used to go to this restaurant a long time ago, and I have fond memories of it.” Sources said that the venue was prepared.
In particular, at the second banquet after changing seats, Mrs. Kim Gun-hee, who will be visiting Japan with President Yoon and Prime Minister Kishida, will not be present so that they can spend time together. Both leaders like alcohol.
Japan has carefully selected the dinner venue for each overseas summit visit. When U.S. President Joe Biden visited Japan last May, Japan held a dinner party at Happo-en, where you can enjoy a garden unique to the Edo period. At that time, Mrs. Hiroko, the wife of Prime Minister Kishida, served tea at this place.
President Yoon’s visit to Japan this time is not a state visit, but a working visit. The Korean government proposed a solution to the issue of compensation for forced labor, which is a pending issue between South Korea and Japan. It is read with the intention of