President thanks fans for their love of K-pop; Park Jin-young also attends as co-chair of cultural exchange committee

President Lee Jae Myung and first lady Kim Hye-kyung make heart gestures toward the audience at the Stray Kids concert held at GNP Stadium in Mexico City on Friday (local time). [Yonhap]
President Lee Jae Myung and first lady Kim Hye-kyung make heart gestures toward the audience at the Stray Kids concert held at GNP Stadium in Mexico City on Friday (local time). [Yonhap]

President Lee Jae Myung and first lady Kim Hye-kyung attended a Stray Kids concert with Mexican youth on Friday (local time) during a state visit to Mexico, thanking fans for their love of K-pop.

The president and the first lady met with Mexican young people at GNP Stadium in Mexico City.

"I am truly grateful that you love K-pop so much," Lee said. "Culture seems to connect not only people to people, but also nation to nation."

And went on to say: "My childhood dream was to go to a large concert venue and enjoy a performance, but I ultimately never got to do that. I sometimes wonder what it would have been like if I had fulfilled that dream in my youth." He then congratulated the young attendees, saying, "Congratulations on having the opportunity to do that today."

"It will probably be a wonderful memory you carry for the rest of your lives," he added. "Enjoy today's show."

Kim also addressed the crowd. "I hope today's performance becomes an unforgettable night in your lives," she said. "Thank you so much for loving K-pop."

Lee then turned to the audience, asking the Mexican youth why they liked K-pop.

When one student answered "Bang Chan," Park Jin-young — chief creative officer of JYP Entertainment, Stray Kids' agency, and co-chair of the Popular Culture Exchange Committee — explained that Bang Chan is the group's leader.

Also in attendance were Lee Jae-jeong, chair of the National Assembly's Culture, Sports and Tourism Committee, and Culture, Sports and Tourism Minister Choi Hwi-yeong.

The president and first lady then moved to a second-floor balcony in the venue, where they waved light sticks and greeted the audience. They also took selfies with Park and other officials present.

President Lee Jae Myung and first lady Kim Hye-kyung pose for a photo with Park Jin-young, lead producer of JYP Entertainment and co-chair of the Popular Culture Exchange Committee, at the Stray Kids concert held at GNP Stadium in Mexico City on Friday (local time). [Yonhap]
President Lee Jae Myung and first lady Kim Hye-kyung pose for a photo with Park Jin-young, lead producer of JYP Entertainment and co-chair of the Popular Culture Exchange Committee, at the Stray Kids concert held at GNP Stadium in Mexico City on Friday (local time). [Yonhap]

sang@heraldcorp.com