Cairo: South Korean first lady Kim Hea Kyung and Egyptian first lady Intissar el-Sisi engaged in talks and a luncheon in Cairo, as reported by Seoul's presidential office. The meeting took place during a summit between South Korean President Lee Jae Myung and Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi at the Egyptian presidential palace.
According to Yonhap News Agency, the meeting was part of President Lee's visit to Egypt, which is the second stop on his international tour that includes South Africa and Turkey. During the luncheon, Intissar el-Sisi introduced traditional Egyptian cuisine, while Kim highlighted the growing global interest in Korean food, spurred by the worldwide popularity of Korean culture.
Kim expressed her desire to serve halal-certified Korean food to the Egyptian first lady, emphasizing the importance of Islamic dietary laws. She also commended Intissar's dedication to promoting women's rights. Intissar responded positively, expressing hope that their meeting would enhance cultural exchanges between South Korea and Egypt.
After the luncheon, the two first ladies visited prominent cultural landmarks, including the Giza Pyramid complex and the new Grand Egyptian Museum. Kim expressed her admiration for Egypt's historical heritage and preservation efforts, proposing exchange programs between the Grand Egyptian Museum and the National Museum of Korea.
Kim invited Intissar el-Sisi to South Korea, suggesting a visit to the country's most-visited museum, and presented her with gifts from the museum's souvenir shop. The gifts included accessories inspired by the Netflix animated film "KPop Demon Hunters," as shared by the vice presidential spokesperson, Jeon Eun-soo.