'Jewel in the Palace' so popular streets emptied during broadcasts, Uzbek first lady recalls; hanbok, hanji and AI among topics at tea

President Lee Jae Myung and first lady Kim Hye-kyung pose for a photo with visiting Uzbek President Shavkat Mirziyoyev and first lady Ziroat Mirziyoyeva at Cheong Wa Dae on Monday. [Yonhap]
President Lee Jae Myung and first lady Kim Hye-kyung pose for a photo with visiting Uzbek President Shavkat Mirziyoyev and first lady Ziroat Mirziyoyeva at Cheong Wa Dae on Monday. [Yonhap]

First lady Kim Hye-kyung toured the National Palace Museum of Korea on Monday with Ziroat Mirziyoyeva, the wife of visiting Uzbek President Shavkat Mirziyoyev, sharing a tea session and deepening ties through cultural diplomacy during the state visit.

Deputy Cheong Wa Dae Spokesperson Ahn Gwi-ryeong said in a written briefing that Kim met Mirziyoyeva in the morning for a wide-ranging conversation on cultural exchange and bilateral cooperation. Also present was Mirziyoyeva's second daughter, Shakhnoza Mirziyoyeva, who lived in Seoul from 2011 to 2016.

The two first ladies visited the National Palace Museum, located within Gyeongbokgung in Jongno-gu, Seoul, where they viewed major artifacts from the Joseon royal court and the Korean Empire. When Mirziyoyeva remarked that seeing people of all ages wearing hanbok around Gyeongbokgung had been "truly beautiful" and mentioned a photo of her granddaughter in hanbok, Kim replied that strolling through the palace grounds in hanbok had become "a popular cultural experience even among foreign visitors."

The two then viewed royal seals, the throne, a folding screen depicting the sun, moon and five peaks, and the annals of Kings Seongjong and Seonjo. When Mirziyoyeva expressed surprise that the annals had survived in remarkably intact condition over the centuries, Kim explained that hanji, Korea's traditional paper, possesses exceptional durability and resists deterioration over time. In the royal-life gallery, Kim guided her guest through court attire, saying the experience made her "feel anew the elegance of traditional dress and the craftsmanship passed down through it," and showed off a decorative hairpin she was wearing, explaining its use. Viewing a traditional wrapping cloth, Mirziyoyeva noted that Uzbekistan has a similar textile tradition and said she felt "the two countries share much in common culturally, even across different histories and environments."

During the tea session that followed, the conversation broadened to advanced technology, education and hallyu. Mirziyoyeva said she was "deeply impressed by Korea's rapid technological advances, including in AI," adding that "Uzbekistan has great interest in Korea's experience." When she expressed gratitude for educational cooperation, Kim said she found it "rewarding to know that Korea's experience has been of help" and expressed hope that "the two countries will grow together by sharing each other's strengths."

When Shakhnoza mentioned that her third daughter was studying Korean and hoped to study in Korea, Kim said she was "glad to see the bond with Korea carrying on to the next generation" and encouraged her to continue serving as a bridge between the two countries.

Mirziyoyeva added that "interest in Korean culture — K-pop, K-food and K-beauty — is very high in Uzbekistan," recalling that when "Jewel in the Palace" aired, "the streets felt almost deserted." Kim responded that "culture has great power to bring people and countries closer — just as it makes you want to travel to a country or learn its language," and said she hoped "exchanges and cooperation between the two countries will deepen further across diverse fields, including advanced technology and education, as well as culture."

Mirziyoyeva said Korea and Uzbekistan "have so much in common" and formally invited Kim to visit Uzbekistan. Kim welcomed the invitation, saying she had "long been interested in how Uzbekistan, once a hub of the Silk Road, has preserved its unique traditions while embracing diverse cultures," and expressed hope for "an opportunity to visit and experience that culture firsthand."


sunpine@heraldcorp.com