Wednesday, October 29, 2025 - South Korea rolled out an extraordinary welcome for President Donald Trump on Wednesday, October 29, presenting him with the nation's highest decoration, the "Grand Order of Mugunghwa," and gifting him a replica gold crown.
The display of hospitality came as Trump arrived for the
final leg of a high-profile tour through Asia, with crucial trade talks
scheduled with President Lee Jae Myung and Chinese President Xi Jinping.
The honors began immediately upon arrival. U.S. and South
Korean warplanes escorted Air Force One, and a military band greeted Trump on
the tarmac with a rendition of "YMCA" alongside a gun salute.
The South Korean presidential office stated that Trump was
awarded the Grand Order of Mugunghwa, named after the national flower (the Rose
of Sharon), in recognition of his role as a "peacemaker" on the
Korean peninsula.
Trump, who repeated his invitation on Wednesday, October 29
to meet North Korean leader Kim Jong Un again, was reportedly eager to accept
the glittering award, stating, "I'd like to wear it right now."
A South Korean official confirmed he is the first U.S.
president to receive the honor. President Lee further tailored the welcome to
the American leader, wearing a custom gold-colored tie that his office said
"reflects President Trump's taste for gold."
The leaders met in the historic city of Gyeongju, the ancient
capital of the Silla kingdom. There, Trump was gifted a replica of the golden
Cheonmachong crown, a symbol intended to represent a new era of peaceful
coexistence and common growth between the two nations.
The diplomatic courtship extended to the working lunch, which
featured several nods to the U.S. President's personal preferences. The menu
included mini beef patties with ketchup and a "Korean Platter of
Sincerity," along with grilled fish prepared with a glaze of ketchup and
gochujang (red chilli paste).
Thousand Island salad dressing was included as a nod to
Trump's "success story in his hometown of New York," and the meal
concluded with a "Peacemaker's Dessert," a brownie adorned with
gold.
The day was set to wrap up with a dinner for the leaders of
Vietnam, Australia, New Zealand, Canada, Thailand, and Singapore, where the
wine list featured Trump Chardonnay and Trump Cabernet Sauvignon, from a winery
run by Trump's son.
Trump's visit, which precedes the main Asia-Pacific Economic
Cooperation (APEC) leaders' summit scheduled for Friday and Saturday, caused
some logistical disruption. Diplomatic sources indicated that several leaders
had to change their schedules to accommodate Trump’s early arrival and
departure.
While the city of Gyeongju is not a typical venue for such
large international events, South Korea's Foreign Ministry disputed reports of
room shortages for staff, stating only about half of the available local
accommodation was booked.
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