At noon on January 5, Ms. Kim Hye-kyung, First Lady of the Republic of Korea, hosted a luncheon symposium at the Residence of the South Korean Ambassador to China in Beijing. Professor Wang Dan from the Department of Korean Language and Literature of School of Foreign Languages was invited to attend the symposium. The event aimed to express appreciation to Chinese women representatives who have long been committed to promoting friendly exchanges between China and South Korea. Ms. Kim personally prepared tteok-mandu-guk (rice cake and dumpling soup) for the guests, followed by a warm and friendly conversation with them. Professor Wang Dan delivered a speech on behalf of the attendees.
At the event, Ms. Kim Hye-kyung explained: “In Korea, there is a tradition of eating tteokguk (rice cake soup) during the Lunar New Year. I have heard that in China, making dumplings is a custom during important festivals like the Spring Festival, so today I prepared tteok-mandu-guk. Everyone here has long served as a bridge between China and South Korea, and I hope you all enjoy it.”
Ms. Kim Hye-kyung garnished the tteokguk with shredded egg and seaweed and said with a smile, “Preparing the egg garnish is a key yet challenging step in making tteokguk. Today it went surprisingly smoothly—perhaps this is a sign that the relationship between our two countries will grow even stronger.”
In her remarks, Ms. Kim stated, “Everyone present here plays a vital role in fostering exchanges between our two nations. Today, I have prepared dishes that embody the New Year cultures of both countries. I wish you all health, peace and abundance in the coming year.”
On behalf of the guests, Professor Wang Dan expressed her gratitude, saying:
“China and the Republic of Korea are geographically close and culturally connected. Many of us have drawn inspiration and strength from Korean literature, art, music, and film, as well as from our friendships and exchanges with Korean teachers and colleagues. Today, this bond has taken on a tangible and heartfelt form through your hands, Madam First Lady, becoming the flavors we can see, touch, and savor at the table. This is not merely a luncheon, but a sincere friendship that transcends language and national borders. The kindness and connections between people are found precisely in such warm, everyday details filled with the spirit of life. The foundation of cultural exchange lies in encounters between people and understanding between hearts. Like a gentle rain that nourishes all things, it may seem quiet and subtle, yet it carries a profound power to enrich the spirit and connect the future. As someone who has long been engaged in cultural exchange between our two countries, I deeply appreciate the beauty and importance of this endeavor. Going forward, we will continue to serve as messengers of friendship between China and Korea, ensuring that more wonderful stories are shared and carried on between our peoples. May the friendship and cultural exchange between our two nations flourish like spring blossoms in full bloom, and flow endlessly like a gentle stream.”
Photos/Text: South Korean MBC News, Department of Korean Language
Translation: Song Yucen