The White House hosted a state dinner on Wednesday to mark the official state visit of South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol. The event celebrated the 70-year alliance between the two nations and featured musical performances and speeches from both leaders. President Biden toasted to the partnership between the US and South Korea and expressed his commitment to work together on areas such as space, cyber, and technology. The South Korean president surprised the crowd with a karaoke rendition of "American Pie," which received a standing ovation.
The event was attended by notable guests such as Angelina Jolie and her son, Maddox, home design stars Chip and Joanna Gaines, and Olympic gold medalist snowboarder Chloe Kim. Samantha Cohen, daughter of former Trump fixer Michael Cohen, and friend to the president's granddaughter Naomi Biden, was also in attendance. The dinner was meticulously planned by a team of White House chefs, social staff, and protocol experts, and featured a menu prepared by Korean American celebrity chef Edward Lee. The décor featured symbols of both countries, including cherry blossom branches, a magpie, a tiger, a hibiscus, a bald eagle, bison, and roses.
Top Biden officials arrived in their formal wear, including Secretary of State Antony Blinken and his wife, cabinet secretary Evan Ryan; Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Mark Milley; US Trade Representative Katherine Tai; US Ambassador to the United Nations Linda Thomas-Greenfield; Director of National Intelligence Avril Haines; and press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre. Only one GOP official, Utah Sen. Mitt Romney, was spotted at the dinner, while other state and local officials and Democratic lawmakers were also in attendance.
In summary, the state dinner hosted by the Bidens for South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol celebrated the 70-year alliance between the US and South Korea. The event featured speeches, musical performances, and a surprise karaoke performance by the South Korean president. Notable guests attended, and the event was meticulously planned with décor and a menu that represented both countries. Top Biden officials and some GOP and Democratic lawmakers were present, along with family members and state and local officials.