00:00 Mr. President, Madam Kim Kyeong-hee,
00:05 it gives my wife and myself great pleasure to welcome you
00:09 to Buckingham Palace this evening.
00:12 (speaking in Korean)
00:18 (applause)
00:27 As we mark the 140th anniversary of our two nations' diplomatic
00:33 relationship, your visit to the United Kingdom celebrates our
00:38 remarkable partnership.
00:40 It is a partnership in which close personal connections
00:45 fostered over many decades have blossomed today into a real
00:50 sense of affection, or cheong, between our societies at so many levels.
00:57 We also wonder at the remarkable journey your nation has taken in
01:03 the span of a single lifetime -- my lifetime, in fact.
01:09 Korea has matched Danny Boyle with Bong Joon-ho,
01:15 James Bond with Squid Game, and the Beatles let it be with
01:20 BTS's Dynamic, or Dynamite.
01:25 Our cultures share a remarkable ability to captivate
01:31 imaginations across the world.
01:34 It is especially inspiring to see Korea's younger generation
01:40 embrace the cause.
01:42 I applaud Jenny, Ji-Soo, Lisa, and Rose -- better known
01:49 collectively as Blackpink -- for their role in bringing the
01:53 message of environmental sustainability to a global
01:57 audience as ambassadors for the UK's presidency of COP26,
02:03 and later as advocates for the UN Sustainable Development Goals.
02:10 I can only admire how they can prioritize these vital issues,
02:14 as well as being global superstars.
02:19 Sadly, when I was in Seoul all those years ago,
02:22 I'm not sure I developed much of what might be called a
02:27 "Gangnam style."
02:29 (laughter)
02:34 All those who fought for the survival of your fledgling
02:37 republic are in admiration of what your country has become.
02:44 Through their own sweat and toil,
02:47 but under the shadow of tyranny and the ever-present threat of
02:52 aggression, over seven decades Koreans have built a bastion of
02:58 democracy, human rights, and freedom.
03:03 In a world where these values are challenged sadly,
03:06 as rarely before in our lifetimes,
03:09 the Republic of Korea and the United Kingdom stand shoulder
03:14 to shoulder in defense of all that we hold dear.
03:20 And so, Mr. President, Madam Kim,
03:23 it is with great pride and pleasure that I propose a toast
03:29 to the next 140 years of Korean-British relations.
03:36 Wee-hi-yo!
03:37 (laughter)
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