First Ladies of the Republic of Korea and Brazil meet during state visit to Brasília

On 27 July, First Lady of the Republic of Korea Kim Hye Kyung met with First Lady of Brazil Rosângela “Janja” Lula da Silva in Brasília. The meeting took place during the first state visit by the Korean presidential couple to Brazil in 11 years.

Welcoming the Korean First Lady to the Palácio da Alvorada, Janja Lula da Silva accompanied her to the exhibition Festival of Light: Popular Festivals and Brazilian Art at the TCU Cultural Centre. The exhibition brings together paintings, sculptures, ceramics, woodcuts, and photography inspired by Brazil’s popular festivals, featuring works by renowned Brazilian artists, including Alfredo Volpi and Beatriz Milhazes.

Reflecting on the visit, Janja Lula da Silva emphasised the role of culture in international dialogue, saying: “Sharing this cultural richness also strengthens the bonds of friendship between Brazil and the Republic of Korea, showing that art and culture have the power to bring our peoples closer together and build bridges between different traditions.”

The meeting took place against the backdrop of strengthening bilateral relations between the Republic of Korea and Brazil. Earlier this year, President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva paid an official visit to Seoul, while the July summit in Brasília resulted in seven memorandums of understanding covering cooperation in renewable energy, industrial technologies, space, defence, education, sports, and culture. The two countries also agreed to deepen collaboration in critical minerals and advanced industries, including artificial intelligence, semiconductors, and batteries.

The meeting reflected the contribution of First Ladies to public diplomacy, using culture as a bridge for dialogue, mutual understanding, and international cooperation.