First lady visits cultural theme park, biotech firm in Indonesia

First lady Kim Keon Hee (left) is greeted by Indonesian first lady Iriana Widodo at Taman Mini Indonesia Indah on Wednesday. (Joint Press Corps.)

South Korea's first lady Kim Keon Hee on Wednesday visited a cultural theme park and a biotechnology company dedicated to vaccine development on the sidelines of President Yoon Suk Yeol's visit to Indonesia.

These were part of the official Spouse Program of the ASEAN Summit hosted by Indonesian first lady Iriana Widodo, and was attended by Kim and her counterparts from Cambodia, Malaysia, the Philippines, Bangladesh and Japan, according to a presidential spokesperson in a written statement.

The first ladies went to Taman Mini Indonesia Indah, a recreational area hosting replicas of traditional houses located in the southeastern part of the Jakarta Special Capital Region.

There, Kim took part in a workshop for arts and crafts with children and watched a performance of Indonesian martial art and traditional dancing. Kim was quoted as saying that proactive support to the future generation "is crucial to preserving traditions and culture."

First lady Kim Keon Hee attends a meeting with Bio Farma officials during her visit to the company on Wednesday. (Joint Press Corps.)

Kim later visited the headquarters of Bio Farma, a state-owned vaccine manufacturer in Bandung, West Java province.

Bio Farma, Indonesia's only local vaccine manufacturer, has worked with the International Vaccine Institute to develop the typhoid conjugate vaccine. Kim has served as the honorary president of the institute's Korea Support Committee since March.

"The solidarity and cooperation in the international community is critical to protecting the lives of human race from epidemics and diseases and at the same time for achieving global health justice," Kim was quoted as saying.

By Son Ji-hyoung(consnow@heraldcorp.com)