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South Korean President Lee Jae-myung and First Lady Kim Hea-kyung, together with Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva and First Lady Rosângela da Silva, pose for a photo during a cultural performance and welcome reception hosted by the Brazilian presidential couple at the Itamaraty Palace in Brasília on July 27 (local time). From left: First Lady Kim Hea-kyung, President Lee Jae-myung, President Lula da Silva, and First Lady Rosângela da Silva. / Yonhap News

Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva and South Korean President Lee Jae-myung, who quickly grew close over their shared background as former child factory workers, met again in a month on July 27, local time, demonstrating their unchanging friendship.

As soon as President Lee and President Lula met in front of the presidential palace, the venue for the summit, they greeted each other with a hug, and even after the joint press statement, they naturally embraced each other, expressing their mutual fondness. At this time, President Lula suggested to President Lee, who was about to leave, that they make a finger heart for the camera, which made President Lee laugh heartily and warmed up the atmosphere even more.

President Lula's special feeling toward President Lee was also evident during the welcoming ceremony before the summit that day.

The Brazilian side held a grand welcoming ceremony, including deploying mounted honor guards on both sides to escort President Lee as he drove to the Alvorada Palace, where the summit was held, on the morning of that day.

Choosing the official residence, the Alvorada Palace, rather than President Lula's office, the Planalto Palace, as the venue for the summit is also evaluated as elevated protocol on the Brazilian side.

In the joint press statement, President Lee expressed his gratitude, saying, "I am truly grateful for warmly welcoming me and our delegation at the beautiful Alvorada Palace." He added, "As you told me a moment ago, I consider it a great honor and feel deeply grateful that I am the fourth foreign leader to be welcomed here, following Chinese President Xi Jinping, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, and former French President Jacques Chirac."

President Lee also mentioned the shared experience of the two, who had worked as factory workers during their childhoods.

President Lee said, "President Lula and I share a special experience, and just as the president is missing a finger on his left hand, I also injured my left hand while working in a factory as a child."

He continued, "Although I currently have a disability due to an injury to my left arm, this does not serve as an obstacle to my life or to working for the people of the world. Instead, it constantly reminds me of the duty to think about more people continuously and to ensure that an overwhelmingly larger number of people can live better lives."

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South Korean President Lee Jae-myung, on a state visit to Brazil, embraces and greets President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva at a welcoming ceremony held in the square in front of the presidential residence in Brasilia on July 27, local time. / Yonhap News

In addition, President Lee said, "Tomorrow in Sao Paulo, I plan to visit the metalworkers' union office where you worked in your youth," adding, "There, I will reflect once again on President Lula's dream, who never forgot the reality of workers and strove to help everyone live a better life."

President Lula also emphasized, "Those who suffered in their youth cherish every single opportunity," adding, "President Lee and I both grew up in extremely difficult environments, and that is why we know the importance of each citizen, each student, and each worker."

Furthermore, President Lula said, "Since you extended such special hospitality to us during our visit to South Korea last February, I felt a strong desire to show hospitality that matches it, or at least reaches 90 percent of it."

On the same day, President Lee wrote in the presidential palace guestbook, "Wishing for the eternal friendship between the Republic of Korea and Brazil, and that we open a future of shared prosperity together."

                                                                                                             Hong Sun-mi