By Diplomacy Journal Lee Jon-young

First Lady Kim Hye-kyung, accompanying President Lee Jae-myung on his visit to Türkiye, held a social engagement and conversation with Mrs. Emine Erdoğan, the First Lady of Türkiye, on Nov. 24. Following their visit to the Museum of Civilizations, the focus was on touring the National Library and attending cultural and artistic events.

First, the two ladies visited the Korea Corner within the National Library of Türkiye. In the space stocked with various Korean books, including Korean language and Korean novels, Mrs. Erdoğan introduced, “The popularity of the Korean Wave in Türkiye is very high, and many young people want to learn Korean.”

Mrs. Kim Hye-kyung expressed her gratitude for the keen interest and stated, “I hope exchanges between our two countries in the fields of culture, arts, and education will expand further.”

The two ladies then continued their friendly exchange by viewing an exhibition of traditional Turkish attire and enjoying a musical performance held at the National Library.

During the exhibition, Mrs. Erdoğan spontaneously presented Mrs. Kim with a traditional scarf and bag made from Ankara goat hair. Mrs. Kim Hye-kyung expressed her gratitude, saying, “It is meaningful to experience Turkey's diverse culture and arts up close.”

The musical performance featured a children's choir singing ‘Arirang,’ followed by flute and piano performances by students from the Arts High School for Gifted Students. This concert, the first musical performance at the National Library hosted by Mrs. Erdoğan for a visiting First Lady, held special significance as it reflected Mrs. Kim Hye-kyung's deep interest in music, stemming from her background as a piano major.

Following the performance, the two First Ladies visited the National Library's Archaeology Exhibition Hall, which displays artifacts excavated across Türkiye and cultural properties repatriated from abroad.

Mrs. Erdoğan emphasized that the process of returning cultural properties taken overseas to the people is “a matter of establishing historical justice and passing on identity and pride to future generations.”

In response, Mrs. Kim Hye-kyung explained that Korea has also continuously strived for the repatriation and preservation of cultural assets, adding, “I hope that our two nations, sharing a long civilization and history, will cooperate more closely in the fields of cultural heritage repatriation, preservation, restoration, and academic exchange.”

Finally, Mrs. Kim Hye-kyung proceeded to the presidential residence, where she agreed to and signed the ‘Zero Waste’ initiative proposed by Mrs. Erdoğan.

Viewing photos of Mrs. Erdoğan's activities, Mrs. Kim Hye-kyung remarked, “I am well aware of your longstanding, leading efforts in waste reduction and recycling,” expressing hope that this meeting would expand environmental cooperation between the two nations.

Mrs. Kim Hye-kyung concluded the schedule, evaluating that this goodwill visit served as a meaningful opportunity to broaden the foundation for cooperation between the two countries, including the return and restoration of cultural heritage, and cultural and museum exchanges.