Jolie last visited Seoul in 2019 when Maddox began his studies at Yonsei University, and in 2018, when she met with refugees on behalf of the UN Refugee Agency. Last year, the book she co-authored with Amnesty International on youth rights, Know Your Rights and Claim Them, was published in South Korea.
A White House press release issued last month highlighted the significance of the visit from the South Korean leader and his wife, which “celebrates the 70th anniversary of the U.S.-ROK alliance, which is critical to advancing peace, stability, and prosperity for our two countries, the Indo-Pacific, and around the world.”
As an official gift to the couple ahead of the state dinner, the Bidens presented a small, handcrafted table made out of mahogany wood and inlaid with historical White House wood. The table, inspired by traditional Korean soban tables, was made by an American furniture-maker and included a brass plaque commemorating the state visit. It was topped with a vase filled with handmade paper hibiscus and rose flowers by a Korean-American artist, symbolizing the long-lasting diplomatic relationship between the U.S. and the Republic of Korea.
