President Moon Jae-in (left) is given a U.S. Marine Corps badge from former Marine Corps Lt. Gen. Stephen Olmstead during Moon`s visit to a memorial dedicated to the Jangjin Reservoir Battle (장진호 전투), also known as the Battle of the Chosin Reservoir in the Korean War, at Marine Corps Base Quantico in Virginia on June 28. President Moon introduced Olmstead as `living proof of history.`

By Yoon Sojung

Photos = Cheong Wa Dae, President Moon Jae-in Facebook profiles 

President Moon Jae-in and first lady Kim Jung-sook returned home on July 2 after a five-day U.S. trip. 

Despite the short schedule, their U.S. itineraries included not only the first U.S. summit meeting with U.S. President Donald Trump, but also various other events. Some of the events were mentioned in the Facebook profiles of both Cheong Wa Dae and President Moon. 

As the first itinerary item on the trip, on June 28 President Moon headed to a memorial dedicated to those who fought in the Janggin Reservoir Battle (장진호 전투), also known as the Battle of the Chosin Reservoir in the Korean War, at Marine Corps Base Quantico in Virginia. 

After standing for a moment of silence in honor of the Marines who sacrificed their lives for Korea, President Moon expressed his gratitude to the war veterans and to their family members, saying that the Jangjin Reservoir Battle allowed the Hungnam Evacuation (흥남 철수 작전) to take place. His speech touched the hearts of the U.S. citizens, saying that he himself was a true beneficiary of the battle, as he would not have been born if the evacuation had not taken place. 

Many U.S. people wrote favorable comments on the official Facebook profile of the U.S. Marine Corps concerning President Moon’s address. President Donald Trump even praised the speech as being both wonderful and touching. 

First lady Kim Jung-sook (left) participates in an art treatment class with Jack Celler during her visit to the IONA Senior Services center in Washington on June 30. (Cheong Wa Dae Facebook profile)

First lady Kim Jung-sook, who was accompanying President Moon, visited a senior services center to meet with the elderly. She also attended the Seoul-Washington Women’s Association meeting where she met spouses of the former U.S. ambassadors to Korea and those of U.S. soldiers. 

First lady Kim visited the IONA Senior Services center in Washington on June 30. There, she learned more about various treatments and dementia programs, and the history of the service center directly from Executive Director Sally White. She even attended an art treatment class targeting seniors. 

Kim attended the Seoul-Washington Women’s Association where she met with Joan Magnusson Hubbard, spouse of former ambassador to Korea Thomas Hubbard. Kim offered her jacket as a gift to Hubbard, as she had praised her jacket, creating a wonderful and touching surprise. 

President Moon Jae-in signs the visitor’s book at Blair House before leaving the White House`s guest house on July 1. In the book, he wrote a thank you message in Korean, saying, `It was a rewarding summit. I enjoyed staying here. Thank you for your warm hospitality.` (Cheong Wa Dae Facebook profile)

Korean residents pose for a photo holding up caricatures of President Moon Jae-in and first lady Kim Jung-sook, during a meeting between President Moon and Korean residents of Washington on July 1. (Cheong Wa Dae Facebook profile)