President Moon Jae-in and first lady Kim Jung-sook on Nov. 25 pose for a photo with the leaders from the ten member states of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) and their spouses in Busan before the welcoming banquet of the ASEAN-ROK Commemorative Summit.


By Min Yea-Ji and Lee Jihae
Photos = 2019 ASEAN-ROK Commemorative Summit

President Moon Jae-in on Nov. 25 said in Busan, "The Association of Southeast Asian Nations' (ASEAN) dream is Korea's dream."

At the welcoming banquet of the ASEAN-ROK (Republic of Korea) Commemorative Summit at the Hilton Busan at Ananti Cove, he said, "We have become 'optimal partners' through amity and trust over the past 30 years, and now is the opportunity to make a new leap," calling ASEAN's dream the same as Korea's.

"This commemorative summit will show that we all share a dream of becoming a united community."
  A hologram of the Sacred Bell of Great King Seongdeok (also known as the Emille Bell) is installed at the hall where President Moon Jae-in and first lady Kim Jung-sook greet leaders from member countries of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) and their spouses. The hologram is a combination of Korean tradition and 5G technology. A digital sound of the bell reverberated when an ASEAN head of state and his wife walked to face President Moon and the first lady. Guards of honor also hold flags in salute.
  "ASEAN and Korea have cooperated in increasingly diverse sectors such as economy, culture and the Fourth Industrial Revolution, and are becoming more interconnected. We have become 'optimal partners' through amity and trust over the past 30 years, and now is the opportunity to make a new leap," President Moon said in his speech at the summit's welcoming banquet.
  President Moon Jae-in on Nov. 25 makes a toast with ASEAN leaders at the 2019 ASEAN-ROK Commemorative Summit welcoming banquet in Busan.
  The banquet menu featured ingredients from Korea's mountains, ocean and plains. The four-course meal was served under the themes of "peace," "togetherness," "prosperity" and "harmony." The dessert, under the theme "unity in diversity," was made with rice from all ten ASEAN member states.


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