Actor Ahn Jae Wook made a surprise appearance at a state banquet for Vietnam, drawing attention from attendees and media alike.
On August 11, the South Korean presidential office hosted a 'Korea–Vietnam state banquet' at the Blue House State Guesthouse, presided over by President Lee Jae Myung.
Opening the event in Vietnamese with a warm “Xin chào” (“Hello”), President Lee remarked, “The Republic of Korea, which achieved the Miracle on the Han River, is the ideal partner for Vietnam, which is now achieving the Miracle on the Red River.”
Vietnamese Communist Party General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong expressed gratitude and said, “I sincerely appreciate the gracious hospitality. In this new era, I hope Vietnam will walk alongside Korea as our nation advances.”
The banquet gathered prominent figures from Korea’s political, business, cultural, and sports sectors. Business leaders included SK Group Chairman and Korea Chamber of Commerce and Industry President Chey Tae Won, Hyundai Motor Group Chairman Chung Eui Sun, LG Group Chairman Koo Kwang Mo, and Lotte Group Chairman Shin Dong Bin. Other attendees included Seoul Semiconductor CEO Lee Jung Hoon, SIMPAC Chairman and Korea Federation of Mid-sized Enterprises Chairman Choi Jin Sik, National Agricultural Cooperative Federation Chairman Kang Ho Dong, and Shinhan Bank President Jeong Sang Hyuk.
From the presidential office, Chief of Staff Kang Hoon Sik and National Security Office Director Wi Sung lac were present. Government officials included Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Economy and Finance Koo Yun Cheol and Minister of Science and ICT Bae Kyung Hoon. Political leaders such as Democratic Party lawmaker Kim Tae Nyeon, a former chair of the Korea–Vietnam Parliamentary Friendship Association, and People Power Party lawmaker Kim Seok Ki, chair of the National Assembly’s Foreign Affairs and Unification Committee, were also in attendance.
One of the most notable guests was Ahn Jae Wook, who debuted in 1994 through MBC’s 23rd open recruitment for actors and has starred in numerous hit dramas, including 'Star in My Heart.' Over his three-decade career, Ahn has built a strong fan base not only in Korea but also across Southeast Asia, particularly in China and Vietnam, cementing his status as an original Hallyu star.
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