South Korea will on Wednesday welcome U.S. President Donald Trump with a replica gold crown and bestow upon him the Grand Order of Mugunghwa, the country’s highest decoration, in recognition of his “peacemaker” role on the Korean peninsula, the presidential office said.
Trump arrived in South Korea on the final leg of an Asian tour that has included stops in Malaysia and Japan, ahead of high-level trade talks with South Korean President Lee Jae Myung and Chinese President Xi Jinping.
Air Force One was escorted by U.S. and South Korean fighter jets as it approached, and a South Korean military band greeted Trump on the tarmac with a rendition of “YMCA”, followed by a gun salute.
President Lee is seeking to secure tariff concessions from Washington amid prolonged negotiations over U.S. trade policies affecting South Korea. His office said Trump would receive the Grand Order of Mugunghwa for his efforts toward peace with North Korea, despite the collapse of U.S.–North Korea talks during Trump’s first term.
The honour, named after South Korea’s national flower the pink hibiscus or Rose of Sharon is traditionally reserved for heads of state and individuals who have made significant contributions to national development or international friendship.
As part of the ceremonial welcome, Trump will visit the historic city of Gyeongju, once the capital of the ancient Silla Kingdom, where he will be presented with a replica of the Cheonmachong gold crown. The original, discovered in a royal tomb, is famed for its intricate gold prongs and dangling leaf motifs.
“This symbolises the history of Silla, which maintained long-term peace on the Korean Peninsula, and represents a new era of peaceful coexistence and shared growth between the United States and South Korea,” Lee’s office said.
Following the museum tour, the leaders will hold a working lunch featuring Thousand Island dressing, described by Lee’s office as a nod to Trump’s “success story in his hometown of New York,” alongside Korean dishes tailored to his preferences.
The day will conclude with a dinner attended by leaders of Vietnam, Australia, New Zealand, Canada, Thailand, and Singapore. Diplomatic sources said several of those leaders adjusted their schedules to meet Trump, who is expected to leave South Korea before the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) leaders’ summit begins on Friday.
