South Korean First Lady Kim Hye-kyung visited Malaysia on October 27 alongside President Lee Jae-myung for the ASEAN summit, where she attended a promotional event for Korean agricultural exports under the banner "2025 K-Fresh Food Universe Malaysia."
The event, held in Kuala Lumpur, showcased a variety of Korean fresh produce, including grapes, pears, apples, strawberries, mandarins, kiwifruit, sweet potatoes, and bell peppers. Kim toured the booths and received updates on market performance from the local trade office, which noted, "We compete with taste and quality, and fruits with a crisp texture are particularly popular among local consumers."
© Presidential Office
Kim stated, "It is very proud that our fruits are recognized for their competitiveness and loved in Southeast Asia, often called the 'fruit paradise,'" while encouraging exporters who have built sales networks and developed local distribution channels. She also took photos with visitors dressed in hanbok.
Earlier that morning, Kim joined the spouses' program of the ASEAN summit at the invitation of Wan Azizah, the spouse of the Malaysian Prime Minister. The event was held at Seri Negara, a historical site where the Federation of Malaya's independence agreement was signed.
Participants, including spouses from Canada, New Zealand, and other nations, viewed an exhibition on the traditional kebaya dress, which was added to UNESCO's Intangible Cultural Heritage list in 2023 through a joint nomination by Malaysia, Brunei, Indonesia, Singapore, and Thailand.
During the luncheon featuring Malaysian cuisine, Kim remarked, "In Korea, there is a culture of preparing abundant food with care when hosting distinguished guests." The event also included a live performance of the K-pop song "APT." by a Malaysian musician, during which attendees joined in dancing.
Kim expressed appreciation to Wan Azizah and added, "Korea has also prepared extensively to host the APEC summit. We hope to meet again in Gyeongju, a historic city of beauty." Among the attending spouses were representatives from Malaysia, Singapore, Thailand, the Philippines, New Zealand, and Canada, all members of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC).
Source: The Chosun Daily
