South Korean First Lady Kim Hea Kyung met with Egyptian First Lady Intissar el-Sisi in Cairo on Thursday for talks and a luncheon, sharing thoughts on traditional foods and cultural exchanges. The meeting took place alongside a summit between Presidents Lee Jae Myung and Abdel Fattah el-Sisi. They later toured major historical sites.
In talks at the Egyptian presidential palace in Cairo, South Korean First Lady Kim Hea Kyung noted that Korean food has gained global attention due to the popularity of Korean culture. Egyptian First Lady Intissar el-Sisi introduced traditional Egyptian dishes, and Kim expressed hope to personally serve halal-certified Korean food, prepared in accordance with Islamic dietary laws, to her counterpart.
Kim praised Intissar for her commitment to advancing women's rights, while Intissar responded that she hopes the meeting will further promote cultural exchanges between the two nations, according to vice presidential spokesperson Jeon Eun-soo in a written briefing.
The encounter occurred during President Lee Jae Myung's multination trip, with Egypt as the second stop before South Africa and Turkey, alongside the summit with President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi. Afterward, the two first ladies toured the Giza Pyramid complex and the newly opened Grand Egyptian Museum.
Kim told Intissar she was impressed by Egypt's vast historical heritage and preservation efforts, suggesting exchange programs between the Grand Egyptian Museum and the National Museum of Korea. She invited the Egyptian first lady to visit South Korea's most-visited museum on a future trip and presented gifts from the museum's souvenir shop, including accessories inspired by the popular Netflix animated film "KPop Demon Hunters." This meeting highlighted opportunities for cultural and women's rights cooperation between the nations.