South Korea welcomes Trump with its highest award, a golden crown and ketchup [View all]
GYEONGJU, South Korea, Oct 29 (Reuters) - South Korea welcomed U.S. President Donald Trump on Wednesday with a replica gold crown and awarded him with the "Grand Order of Mugunghwa", the country's highest decoration, the presidential office said.
Trump landed in South Korea on the final leg of a trip through Asia that also saw stops in Malaysia and Japan, with high-profile trade talks expected with South Korean President Lee Jae Myung and Chinese President Xi Jinping.
U.S. and South Korean warplanes escorted Air Force One on approach, and on the tarmac a South Korean military band greeted Trump with a rendition of "YMCA" and guns fired a salute.
Lee is hoping to win concessions from Trump in drawn-out negotiations aimed at lowering U.S. tariffs on South Korea, and has wooed the U.S. president by praising his outreach to North Korea.
Lee's office said that in recognition of Trump's role as a "peacemaker" on the Korean peninsula, he was awarded the "Grand Order of
Mugunghwa", which is named after South Korea's national flower, a pink hibiscus also known as the Rose of Sharon in English.
I'd like to wear it right now," Trump said when presented with the glittering award. A South Korean official said he was the first U.S. president to receive the honour.
https://www.reuters.com/world/asia-pacific/south-korea-award-trump-its-highest-medal-gift-him-golden-crown-2025-10-29/
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