SINGAPORE — President Lee Jae-myung held a state dinner with Singapore's president on Thursday at the hotel where the historic 2018 U.S.-North Korea summit took place, expressing confidence that Singapore will continue its "full support" for South Korea's efforts toward peace on the Korean Peninsula.
"This venue where we are having dinner today is where Singapore hosted the historic U.S.-North Korea summit in the past," Lee said at the state banquet with President Tharman Shanmugaratnam at the Capella Hotel. "This place symbolizes the peace leadership of Singapore's diplomacy, which has maintained friendly relations based on trust and respect with countries of differing positions."
The Capella Hotel on Singapore's Sentosa Island hosted the summit between then-U.S. President Donald Trump and North Korean leader Kim Jong Un in June 2018.
"I hope this state visit will provide greater momentum for our strategic partnership and serve as an opportunity to deepen the friendship between our peoples," Lee said, raising a toast.
President Tharman expressed particular affection for Korean culture, including K-pop and K-dramas. He drew laughter from attendees by noting that both countries maintain mandatory military service — two years in Singapore and 18 to 21 months in South Korea.
"The reason I mention this is that many Singaporeans have taken keen interest in the completion of BTS members' military service and are delighted they will be performing in Singapore in December," Tharman said.
Tharman also praised the K-drama "When Life Gives You Tangerines," saying it "portrayed the quiet dignity of ordinary lives across three generations and has been loved by many in Singapore and around the world." He added that he is a fan of the cooking competition show "Culinary Class Wars," which "showcased Korean craftsmanship and excellence."
Citing a Korean proverb — "Like fermented soybean paste, friendships are better when aged" — Tharman noted that bilateral ties spanning more than half a century have grown "richer and deeper in flavor over time."
"We have walked together for over half a century, building a partnership that remains unshaken by storms and grows stronger with time," he said, proposing a toast.