After wrapping up the Korea-Japan summit, Japan Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi gave President Lee Jae-myung a pair of frames from a famous Japanese eyeglass-producing region. Later, Takaichi borrowed Lee's glasses, creating a warm and friendly moment between the two leaders.
Japan's Cabinet Public Affairs Office posted photos of the two leaders on X (formerly Twitter) under the title "A scene after the dinner" following the summit. The photos show Lee wearing glasses different from the pair he had on during the summit, while Takaichi, who normally does not wear glasses, holds the frames with both hands and smiles.
The official account of the Cabinet Public Affairs Office wrote in the photo caption, "Prime Minister Takaichi presented Sabae eyeglass frames to President Lee, who always wears glasses, and while Lee was trying them on, the prime minister quickly borrowed his glasses for a 'click.'"
Sabae is a world-renowned eyeglass production base in Japan's Fukui Prefecture. It is known to account for more than 90% of Japan's eyeglass frame output. Fukui Prefecture is also the hometown of Yamamoto Taku, a former House of Representatives member and Takaichi's spouse.
To mark the summit, Lee prepared a "snowflake named (bowl)" set as a gift for former lawmaker Yamamoto. The bowls express snowflake patterns using zinc glaze and silver, said to capture the snowscapes of Fukui Prefecture, the hometown of Takaichi's spouse.
In the background of the photo showing both leaders wearing glasses are a wooden-carving frame featuring nine Andong Hahoe masks that Lee gifted to Takaichi and a moon jar white porcelain frame.