President Lee Jae-myung, on a state visit to Singapore, attended an orchid naming ceremony held at the Singapore government complex on the morning of the 2nd. The event was attended by Lee and his wife, Kim Hea-kyung, and Singapore President Tharman Shanmugaratnam and his wife.
The orchid is Singapore's national flower. When foreign leaders and other distinguished guests visit, the Singapore government has a unique diplomatic custom of naming a newly cultivated orchid species after the visitor.
This time, one of the Vanda, a type of tropical orchid, was chosen for the naming ceremony. The final name will be "Vanda Lee Jae Myung Kim Hea Kyung," Kang Yu-jung, Spokesperson for the presidential office, said.
A Singapore Botanic Gardens official introduced the orchid, saying it appears to symbolize "geon-gon" of the Korean Taegeukgi, and noted it will be an orchid that shows the development of relations between Korea and Singapore. Lee responded, saying it was truly an honor to have his name attached to a beautiful and fragrant orchid.
Before the orchid naming ceremony, an official welcome ceremony for the state visit was held in front of the main building of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Singapore. Lee, wearing a black suit with a blue tie and a Taegeukgi badge on the left side of his chest, attended the welcome ceremony, shook hands with President Tharman upon arrival, and reviewed the honor guard.