Tokyo: First lady Kim Hea Kyung met with Japanese students studying Korean at a university in Tokyo on Sunday and voiced hope for deeper cultural exchanges between young people of the two neighboring nations. Kim, accompanying President Lee Jae Myung on his trip to Japan, visited Mejiro University, which celebrates the 20th anniversary of opening its Korean language major this year.
According to Yonhap News Agency, Kim noted the growing popularity of Korean culture among Japanese youth, highlighting the influence of K-pop and K-dramas. This cultural interest has expanded into areas such as Korean food, fashion, and beauty, and is now fostering an enthusiasm for learning the Korean language.
Kim emphasized that studying Korean can help promote mutual understanding and goodwill between South Korean and Japanese youth, facilitating a shared language that can ultimately strengthen bilateral ties between the two countries.