A Dash of Gold, A Taste of Peace: Food at the Korea-U.S. Summit in Gyeongju

A Diplomatic Feast: Korean President Hosts U.S. President and APEC Leaders in Gyeongju

Korean President Lee Jae Myung hosted a grand dinner banquet for U.S. President Donald Trump and other APEC leaders, marking an important occasion to discuss trade deals and the situation in Pyongyang. The event took place at a five-star hotel in Gyeongju, North Gyeongsang, and was designed to showcase Korea's rich culinary traditions with a diplomatic twist.

The summit dinner was carefully planned by renowned Korean American chef Edward Lee, who gained fame through his appearance on Netflix's "Culinary Class Wars" (2024). Chef Lee has experience in hosting high-profile events, including serving as a guest chef for the White House during the Korea-U.S. state dinner in 2023. His expertise ensured that the meal not only delighted the taste buds but also conveyed meaningful political messages.

Summit luncheons and dinners are more than just meals; they serve as platforms for leaders to exchange subtle political messages and strengthen personal relationships. During this event, President Lee hosted both a working lunch and a special presidential dinner for heads of state and government, including U.S. President Donald Trump, who was on a two-day state visit to South Korea.

A Culinary Celebration of Friendship

The Western-style banquet featured fusion cuisine that blended Korean regional ingredients with flavors from the leaders' countries, symbolizing deep friendship and harmony. The menu included dishes such as mandu (dumplings) filled with ogol (black bone) chicken sourced from Gangwon's Yeongwol County, served in porcini consommé flavored with truffle oil. This dish embodied the "wish for harmony," as the ogol chicken is a traditional Korean nutritional ingredient known for its health benefits.

Other highlights of the menu included poached lobster tail, in a nod to the United States and Canada, paired with a bisque sauce and pappa al pomodoro, a Tuscan tomato bread soup. Hanwoo (Korean beef) sirloin from Gyeongju was served with sweet pumpkin purée, Namsan pine mushrooms, and soy sauce beef jus. The dessert featured Goheung yuzu sorbet, Danseoksan barley mousse, and dark chocolate croustillant.

Wine and Whiskey: A Taste of Diplomacy

Paired with the meal was Cabernet Sauvignon and Chardonnay from the Virginia-based Trump Winery, run by Eric Trump, the U.S. president's son. However, President Donald Trump, who does not drink alcohol, was served Diet Coke.

During the dinner, Trump announced that Seoul and Washington had finalized a trade deal that had been stalled for weeks. He confirmed that details of Korea's $350 billion investment package for lower tariffs had been ironed out.

A Summit of Global Concerns

The two-hour banquet provided an opportunity for APEC leaders to discuss key international issues, including the North Korean situation and transnational crimes such as online scams and drug trafficking. In his welcoming remarks, President Lee emphasized the importance of solidarity and cooperation among allied countries in the face of complex global crises.

Trump expressed gratitude for Seoul's hospitality, calling a golden crown replica gift an "honor" and "magnificent piece of art." Gold was the color of the summit, with Lee gifting Trump a replica of a golden crown from the Silla Dynasty. Trump was also presented with a golden medal as he became the first U.S. president to be awarded the Grand Order of Mugunghwa, South Korea's highest national order.

A Luncheon with a Message

Earlier in the day, Lee and Trump held a working luncheon at Gyeongju National Museum, featuring dishes with the theme of "Korean flavors meet American spirit, celebrating the enduring friendship through taste."

The luncheon menu included creatively named dishes such as a salad with shrimp, scallops, and abalone served with Korean autumnal herbs and tossed in a Thousand Island dressing called "Reminiscing the Success Story of New York." It was followed by a "Korean Platter of Sincerity with U.S. Beef," featuring braised short ribs made with U.S. beef, accompanied by chestnuts, mushrooms, radishes, and carrots. The dish was served with steamed rice freshly harvested from Gyeongju and spinach soybean paste soup.

Mini beef patties with ketchup were also served on the side. Trump is known for his love of fast food, favoring McDonald's and KFC, paired with ketchup.

A Sweet Ending

The meal concluded with "Peacemaker's Dessert," which included a golden citrus, gold-adorned brownie, and seasonal fruits, with "peace" spelled out on the dish. It was served with buckwheat tea.

In their first summit in Washington in August, Lee had asked Trump to play the role of "peacemaker" on the Korean Peninsula, saying he would in turn be a "pacemaker." While Trump is notoriously a picky eater, a presidential official present during the luncheon meeting said that the U.S. leader enjoyed the food.

A Brokering Role

In his opening remarks at the lunch, Trump said he wasn't able to "work out timing" to meet with North Korean leader Kim Jong-un this time around, but signaled he would continue playing a brokering role as requested by Lee in their first summit. Lee expressed regret that Kim hadn't fully accepted Trump's sincerity in his multiple offers to meet.

Trump noted that the Korean Peninsula is still "officially at war" as the 1950-53 Korean War ended in an armistice agreement, but said he "will see what we can do to get that all straightened out." He told Lee that he plans to "take care" of a "lingering cloud that's over your head," insinuating the possibility of a silver lining to the Korean Peninsula situation.