Overview
- On Oct. 31 in Gyeongju, Kim Hea Kyung led spouses from Canada, New Zealand, the Philippines, Singapore and Thailand through Bulguksa, with Taiwan represented by a presidential adviser’s daughter.
- At the UNESCO-listed temple, the group received a monks’ tour, made dasik and joined a traditional tea ceremony.
- In front of the Cheongungyo and Baegyungyo bridges, Kim presented bokjumeoni lucky pouches, reported to be inspired by the film KPop Demon Hunters, with hand warmers inside.
- The presidential office framed the temple’s twin bridges as a symbol linking past and present and as a bridge between attendees’ hearts.
- The spouses’ program followed days of hanbok-focused diplomacy, including a Gyeongju fashion show featuring APEC-themed and AI-assisted designs and Kim’s pledge to wear hanbok at official events.