Overview
- President Lee Jae Myung hosted the gala at the Lahan Select Gyeongju Hotel, drawing about 400 guests including Chinese President Xi Jinping, international organization representatives and business leaders.
- Korean American chef Edward Lee curated and oversaw the full menu, collaborating with Lotte Hotel chefs and personally creating the appetizers and desserts using ingredients sourced in Gyeongju.
- Courses featured Millennium Hanwoo galbijjim with Wando abalone, gondalbi bibimbap with sundubu made from local soybeans, a crab salad with cured persimmon and pine nut sauce, and a roasted pine nut pie with doenjang-caramelized injeolmi.
- The dinner highlighted traditional jang fermentation recognized by UNESCO, served Jirisan chrysanthemum tea, and presented desserts in mother-of-pearl najeon-chilgi boxes that guests could take home.
- A toast used Horangi Yuja Saeng Makgeolli selected in a national contest, while entertainment included emceeing by Cha Eun-woo and a performance by K-pop star G-Dragon.