Kishida mentions Yoon 20 times during meeting with JoongAng chair

A more comfortable environment was specifically chosen for the meeting since the prime minister was inviting a representative of the Korean media when he hopes that the two countries will move towards a positive, future-oriented relationship.

Japanese Prime Miniser Fumio Kishida answers question asked by JoongAng Holdings Chairman Hong Seok-hyun during a meeting at the prime minister’s residence in Tokyo on May 11. [JUN MIN-KYU]

Hong Seok-hyun, JoongAng Holdings chairman, and Fumio Kishida, Japan’s prime minister, shared a 45-minute discussion at the personal residence of the prime minister in Nagata-cho in Chiyoda District, Tokyo, on Thursday.

Located next to the prime minister’s office, the residence was originally built in 1929 and renovated in 2005.

The grand hall on the first floor of the residence where Hong and Kishida met is where the Japanese prime minister holds banquets for foreign dignitaries, including the late Queen Elizabeth II.

According to an official at the Japanese prime minister’s office, the prime minister usually holds bilateral talks or meetings at his office next door.

However, a more comfortable environment was specifically chosen for the meeting with Hong since the prime minister was inviting a representative of the Korean media at a time when Kishida hopes that the two countries will move towards a positive, future-oriented relationship.

The meeting was slightly delayed when an earlier garden party at the Akasaka Gyoen ran late due to a sudden rain shower, but the Japanese prime minister pushed other appointments back to meet with Hong, demonstrating a strong desire to make the meeting happen.

Hong Seok-hyun, JoongAng Holdings chairman, asks questions to Prime Minister Fumio Kishida during their meeting at the prime minister’s residence in Tokyo on May 11. [JUN MIN-KYU]

When Hong thanked Kishida for meeting him despite a busy schedule, the Japanese prime minister said he had high hopes for the meeting.

To reduce time, the translations on both ends were conducted simultaneously.

This was a proposal made by the prime minister’s office so that the two could have wider and deeper discussions on the future of both countries.

Kishida mentioned President Yoon Suk Yeol roughly 20 times during the meeting, demonstrating his closeness with the Korean president.

Even when discussing Korean food and traveling to Korea, Kishida liberally dropped Yoon’s name.

When Hong said it seems Kishida and Yoon have connected, the Japanese prime minister said, “I was glad that I was able to have a good talk with President Yoon during my visit to Seoul.”

Kishida often mentioned the personal trust and friendship he shares with President Yoon.

The Japanese prime minister also spoke honestly about his thoughts about Korea.

When Hong asked if there were any Korean TV shows the prime minister watched, noting the rising popularity of Korean cultural content, Kishida said there are several that his wife, Yuko, enjoys watching.

“There is a strong sense of the huge popularity of Korean culture in Japan,” Kishida said. “And this is welcome.”

Regarding food, the Japanese prime minister said he understands that there are a wide variety of delicious delicacies in Korean food culture.

“[Korean food] is very popular in Japan,” Kishida said.

The Japanese prime minister said the bulgogi and fried Korean pancakes which were served to him at Yoon’s residence during their recent meeting had left a strong impression.

When Hong asked where in Korea Kishida would like to travel with his family, Kishida said despite visiting Korea several times, he hasn't gone anywhere outside of Seoul.

“Because I would like to visit places other than Seoul, I would like to get a recommendation from President Yoon during our next meeting,” Kishida said.

The meeting was attended by some 10 other key government officials of the Kishida administration including Takashi Shimada, executive cabinet secretary, Noriyuki Shitaka, secretary of public affairs, and Hikariko Ono, the foreign ministry’s press secretary.

BY SPECIAL REPORTING TEAM [kim.hyunki@joongang.co.kr]