South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol made quite an impression on his six-day state visit to the US, starting with a star-studded state dinner where he wowed guests by singing the classic ‘American Pie’. The event was attended by famous names such as TV stars Chip and Joanna Gaines, Olympic snowboarder Chloe Kim, and Hollywood star Angelina Jolie, who brought her son Maddox Jolie-Pitt. Prior to the dinner, it was rumored that BLACKPINK and Lady Gaga would perform, but unfortunately, the performance was cancelled.
During his visit to the US, Yoon met with President Joe Biden at the White House and announced a key new agreement strengthening extended deterrence – a US policy that uses the full range of military capabilities to defend its allies – with new commitments alongside South Korea in response to nuclear threats from North Korea. The leaders unveiled the “Washington Declaration” on Wednesday at the White House, a set of new steps to boost US-South Korean cooperation on military training, information sharing and strategic asset movements in the face of a recent spate of missile launches from North Korea.
The Korean president made a memorable statement during his address to the joint session of U.S. Congress on Thursday. He proudly declared that even if people didn’t know his name, they may recognize two of South Korea’s most popular exports – BTS and BLACKPINK. The statement was met with great enthusiasm from their passionate fan bases, known respectively as ARMYs and BLINKs.
The President has also previously praised both groups for their immense cultural influence and for helping take K-Pop to a global level. He has acknowledged their contribution to strengthening the friendship between South Korea and the US, recognizing the power of music in connecting people from different parts of the world.
Yoon’s message highlighted the importance of cultural exchange and the role that music can play in bringing people together. BTS and BLACKPINK have become cultural ambassadors for South Korea and have helped shine a positive light on the country’s rich traditions and modern innovations.
