President Lee Jae-myung, on a state visit to Singapore, will present Prime Minister Lawrence Wong and his wife with a commemorative ceramic plate marking the 50th anniversary of diplomatic relations, along with a scarf featuring traditional Korean patterns, on Tuesday (local time).
The ceramic plate features a tiger symbolizing Korea and a lion representing Singapore at its center, expressing bilateral exchange and coexistence, according to the Presidential Office.
The Presidential Office explained that the design, inspired by Korean folk painting traditions, incorporates iconic landmarks from both nations alongside the tiger and lion, visually representing cultural exchange and harmonious coexistence.
Singapore uses the Merlion—a creature with a lion's head and fish body—as its symbol, branding itself as a "maritime city-state." Placing Korea's tiger, representing spirit and guardianship, alongside Singapore's lion, embodying the city-state's identity and pioneering spirit, is interpreted as emphasizing mutual respect and coexistence.
Prime Minister Wong will also receive a Korean men's skincare set. The K-beauty brand gift, combining traditional Korean herbal philosophy with modern dermatological science using ginseng-derived ingredients, serves to both showcase Korea's K-beauty symbolism and introduce Korean products to Singapore, a Southeast Asian consumer hub.
For Loo Tze Lui, the Prime Minister's spouse, gifts include Western tableware made using traditional Korean brassware techniques and a silk scarf featuring modernized interpretations of traditional Korean patterns. The Presidential Office noted this selection considers the preference among Singaporean women for wearing scarves indoors to protect against air conditioning.
Earlier Tuesday, President Lee and First Lady Kim Hye-kyung attended an official welcoming ceremony and orchid naming ceremony with President Tharman Shanmugaratnam and his wife at the Singapore government complex.
The orchid is Singapore's national flower, and the naming ceremony is an event where orchid hybrids are named after visiting dignitaries. This unique Singaporean diplomatic tradition aims to strengthen friendly relations with foreign nations. The orchid to bear the names of President Lee and First Lady Kim is a Vanda species, with the final name being "Vanda Lee Jae Myung Kim Hea Kyung."