First Lady Kim Jung-sook and U.S. First Lady Melania Trump had a meeting inside the main building of Cheong Wa Dae before receiving a welcoming delegation of children in the main garden, Nokjiwon. The two First Ladies then had tea and refreshments at Sangchunjae (Spring House), a traditional banquet hall on the Cheong Wa Dae grounds.

This was their third meeting following the first in June this year when First Lady Kim visited the United States and the second in July when the two First Ladies attended events on the sidelines of the G20 Summit.

Their meeting today took place in a reception room on the first floor of the main Blue House building at 3:35 p.m. as the Korea-U.S. summit commenced after the official welcoming ceremony at Cheong Wa Dae. 

After their initial meeting, the two First Ladies stopped in an adjoining room to view the portraits of previous Korean first ladies on the wall. First Lady Kim explained who they were to the First Lady of the US, and they also talked about Korean history.

Their meeting at the main building ended at around 4:15 p.m., after which they walked together in the small garden at Cheong Wa Dae. First Lady Kim spoke about a variety of wild flowers and the significance of ‘Bulromun (Gate for never get old)’ there.

The two First Ladies then proceeded to Nokjiweon, the large garden inside the Cheong Wa Dae compound, where they spent some time with the children who had participated in the welcoming ceremony. 

This delegation of children included 32 students from Namjeong Elementary School in the Yongsan district of Seoul as well as 20 children from families in the Eighth United States Army and the United States Embassy in Korea. Before meeting the two First Ladies, the children had snacks and played in bubble suits on the lawn. The children showed their drawings of the First Ladies and enjoyed some light conversation. 

The two First Ladies presented the children scarves in the colors of the two countries` national flags (red, white and blue) as a token of appreciation for their coming out on a chilly day to welcome them so warmly. The children also had a commemorative photo taken with the First Ladies. 

The two First Ladies then went to Sangchunjae at around 4:50 p.m., where they continued their discussions over tea before being joined by President Moon and President Trump.

The two First Ladies sat in front of a ten-panel folding screen depicting peonies and enjoyed a specially blended tea called "Serene Morning of Pyeongchang." They talked about the aesthetics of the traditional Korean house, or hanok, as well as the folding screen behind them and the upcoming PyeongChang Winter Olympics.

Historically, the peony-embroidered folding screen conveyed wishes for national prosperity, the people’s well-being, and a peaceful reign. Thus, it was a part of court rituals during the Joseon dynasty. On the present occasion, the folding screen was chosen to pay exceptional respect and express sincerity and to wish for peace on the Korean Peninsula and friendship between Korea and the United States.   

First Lady Kim Jung-sook introduced the Korean traditional house to First Lady Melania Trump, who majored in architecture and design. First Lady Kim explained the aesthetics of Korean architecture, in which Koreans of old sought harmony with their surroundings as seen in a picturesque view of nature through an open window. 

‘Serene Morning of Pyeongchang’, a type of tea specially produced for visiting heads of state or government, was served at the tea ceremony. The black tea was a blend of hydrangea from an area in Balwangsan Mountain in Pyeongchang County, Gangwon Province, which stands 700 meters above from the sea level, and Oriental and Western herbs. The blend provides an enhanced flavor and aroma, suggesting wishes to further solidify the Korea-U.S. alliance. 

A piece of walnut wrapped in slices of dried persimmon, and coated with chocolate, was also served during the tea meeting adding to the amiable atmosphere. The persimmons were picked at Cheong Wa Dae and dried by First Lady Kim Jung-sook herself.