South Korea rolled out an extraordinary welcome for U.S. President Donald Trump on Wednesday, October 29, presenting him with the nation’s highest decoration, the “Grand Order of Mugunghwa,” and gifting him a replica gold crown.
The display of hospitality came as Trump arrived for the final leg of a high-profile tour through Asia, with crucial trade talks scheduled with President Lee Jae Myung and Chinese President Xi Jinping.
The honors began immediately upon arrival. U.S. and South Korean warplanes escorted Air Force One, and a military band greeted Trump on the tarmac with a rendition of “YMCA” alongside a gun salute.
The South Korean presidential office stated that Trump was awarded the Grand Order of Mugunghwa, named after the national flower (the Rose of Sharon), in recognition of his role as a “peacemaker” on the Korean peninsula.
South Korea honors Trump with nation
Trump, who repeated his invitation on Wednesday, October 29 to meet North Korean leader Kim Jong Un again, was reportedly eager to accept the glittering award, stating, “I’d like to wear it right now.”
A South Korean official confirmed he is the first U.S. president to receive the honor. President Lee further tailored the welcome to the American leader, wearing a custom gold-colored tie that his office said “reflects President Trump’s taste for gold.”
The leaders met in the historic city of Gyeongju, the ancient capital of the Silla kingdom. There, Trump was gifted a replica of the golden Cheonmachong crown, a symbol intended to represent a new era of peaceful coexistence and common growth between the two nations.
🚨🇺🇸🇰🇷 TRUMP GETS KOREA'S HIGHEST HONOR: "I'D LIKE TO WEAR IT RIGHT NOW"
President Lee Jae Myung just crowned Trump diplomatically.
A replica gold crown from the Gyeongju National Museum.
The Grand Order of Mugunghwa… Korea's highest civilian honor.
Recognition for… https://t.co/a8QcPUtjMA pic.twitter.com/ATC9rpPNSk
— Mario Nawfal (@MarioNawfal) October 29, 2025
The diplomatic courtship extended to the working lunch, which featured several nods to the U.S. President’s personal preferences. The menu included mini beef patties with ketchup and a “Korean Platter of Sincerity,” along with grilled fish prepared with a glaze of ketchup and gochujang (red chilli paste).
Thousand Island salad dressing was included as a nod to Trump’s “success story in his hometown of New York,” and the meal concluded with a “Peacemaker’s Dessert,” a brownie adorned with gold.
The day was set to wrap up with a dinner for the leaders of Vietnam, Australia, New Zealand, Canada, Thailand, and Singapore, where the wine list featured Trump Chardonnay and Trump Cabernet Sauvignon, from a winery run by Trump’s son.
Trump’s visit, which precedes the main Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) leaders’ summit scheduled for Friday and Saturday, caused some logistical disruption. Diplomatic sources indicated that several leaders had to change their schedules to accommodate Trump’s early arrival and departure.
While the city of Gyeongju is not a typical venue for such large international events, South Korea’s Foreign Ministry disputed reports of room shortages for staff, stating only about half of the available local accommodation was booked.