South Korean President Lee Jae-myung bestowed upon President Donald Trump the nation's highest honor, the Grand Order of Mugunghwa, in addition to a replica of the golden Cheonmachong crown.
This gesture, according to Lee, symbolizes a "new trust and companionship between Korea and the United States."
As reported by Breitbart, South Korean Deputy Foreign Minister for Protocol Affairs, Kim Tae-jin, explained the significance of the crown during the state visit to Gyeongju. He stated, "We present this gold crown to you... because it symbolizes the spirit of Silla, which brought peace to the Korean Peninsula for the first time, and the opening of the golden age of the Korea-U.S. alliance."
The crown, Kim added, signifies the "divine connection between the authority of the heavens and sovereignty on Earth, as well as the strong leadership and authority of a leader."
In recognition of his peacekeeping efforts on the Korean Peninsula and globally, Trump was awarded the Grand Order of Mugunghwa, making him the first U.S. president to receive such an honor. Trump's visit to South Korea marked the final stop on his Asian tour, which began at the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) summit in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
The coastal city of Gyeongju, despite its lack of an international airport and limited major hotels, was chosen as the venue for the 2025 Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) forum. The city's historical significance as the capital of the ancient kingdom of Silla, the first to unify all of Korea, made it an ideal location. Gyeongju, often referred to as the "museum without walls," is home to numerous historical sites, including a UNESCO World Heritage site.
The golden Cheonmachong crown, a replica of which was presented to Trump, originates from the Silla Dynasty. The original crown was found in one of Gyeongju's royal tombs, which also contained a drawing of a flying horse, inspiring the name "Cheonmachong," meaning "mural of a flying horse." The crown features a three-pronged symbol, a Chinese character representing a mountain, a symbol of strength and stability in both Korean and Chinese cultures.
The Grand Order of Mugunghwa, the highest award of the Republic of Korea (ROK), was established in 1949, inspired by the Grand Order of Brilliant Jade, an honor created by the Republic of China (ROC) in 1933. The first recipient of the Grand Order of Mugunghwa was Syngman Rhee, the first president of modern South Korea. The award has been bestowed upon every subsequent South Korean president upon taking office and can also be awarded to foreign heads of state.
The design of the medal has undergone 29 revisions since its inception, with the most recent changes made in 2020. Regardless of the design alterations, the award always features the mugunghwa, South Korea's national flower, symbolizing the spirit and resilience of the Korean people.
Upon receiving the award, Trump expressed his admiration, stating, "Its as beautiful as it can possibly be. Id like to wear it right now."
Following the award ceremony, a bilateral summit took place in Gyeongju, where President Lee requested Trump's assistance in providing South Korea with fuel for nuclear submarines. Trump has shown interest in encouraging Seoul to bolster its military spending and enhance its defense posture.
Lee emphasized the potential benefits of this arrangement, stating, "If fuel supply is permitted, we can build several submarines equipped with conventional weapons using our own technology to defend the waters around the Korean Peninsula, ultimately reducing the burden on U.S. forces." He also pledged to increase South Korea's defense spending and develop its defense industry to significantly enhance its self-defense capabilities.
Lee further committed to supporting Trump's efforts to revitalize American manufacturing, particularly in shipbuilding. He asserted that such cooperation would "not only benefit both of our economies but also contribute greatly to making the alliance more practical and robust."
Lee also commended Trump's attempts to arrange another meeting with North Korean dictator Kim Jong-un. Despite Kim's apparent reluctance, Lee praised Trump's efforts, stating that they brought "a sense of warmth and peace" to the Korean Peninsula.
He optimistically predicted, "This will serve as another seed that can spark a major wave of peace on the Korean Peninsula."
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