Veteran actor Ahn Jae Wook surprised attendees at the Korea–Vietnam State Banquet on August 11, grabbing attention from the guests and reporters present at the Blue House State Guesthouse.
The banquet, which was organized by South Korean President Lee Jae Myung, invited Vietnamese Communist Party General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong and a group of political and business leaders.
Greeting the banquet in Vietnamese with a friendly "Xin chào" ("Hello"), President Lee applauded Vietnam's economic development, declaring Korea "the ideal partner" for the Southeast Asian country.
Nguyen Phu Trong acknowledged the hospitality, stating, "In this new era, I hope Vietnam will walk alongside Korea as our nation advances."
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The event invited prominent personalities from the worlds of politics, business, culture, and sport. They included SK Group Chairman Chey Tae Won, Hyundai Motor Group Chairman Chung Eui Sun, LG Group Chairman Koo Kwang Mo, Lotte Group Chairman Shin Dong Bin, among other corporate executives.
High-level government officials, such as Deputy Prime Minister Koo Yun Cheol and Minister of Science and ICT Bae Kyung Hoon, were also in attendance.
Ahn Jae Wook, who had debuted in 1994 and gained popularity through dramas like Star in My Heart, was also one of the cultural envoys who stood out.
One of the pioneering Hallyu stars, he has a devoted fan base in Korea, China, and Vietnam — an attachment which made his presence at the banquet more special.
His presence highlighted the cultural connection between the two countries, supporting the political and economic talks that dominated the night.
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