Prince Frederik and Princess Mary's Official Visit to South Korea: May 10-15, 2012


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SAVE THE DATES 13-16 May 2012 for the Crown Prince Couple's visit to Korea
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Program for the Official Visit

Thursday May 10th - Seoul
15:00
The Crown Prince Couple visit the South Korean War Memorial, where they will lay a wreath. A minute's silence will be held, to the tune of Last Post. They will be joined by the Danish Minister for Business and Growth, Mr Ole Sohn.

16:00
The Crown Prince Couple and Mr Ole Sohn, will be officially welcomed by the Prime Minister of South Korea, Mr Kim Hwang-sik, at the government building.

19:00
The Crown Prince Couple and Mr Ole Sohn attend an official dinner hosted by the Prime Minister of South Korea at the Prime Minister's residence. The dinner will also be attended by members of the South Korean Government and members of the official Danish business delegation.


Friday May 11th - Seoul
09:15
The Crown Princess visits the Samsung Medical Centre in Ilwon-dong, Gangnam-gu. The Crown Princess will visit the NICU, the paediatric ward and the cancer school.

09:30
The Crown Prince, along with the Danish Minister for Development Co-Operation, Mr Christian Friis Bach, will participate in the 'Global Green Growth Summit' hosted by the South Korean Government at the Lotte Hotel. The summit will last for three days.

10:45
The Crown Prince Couple visit the Finn Juhls exhibition at the Daelim Contemporary Art Museum. The exhibition will feature Mr Juhls's traditional furniture designs, and is organised to mark the 100th anniversary of his birth.

12:00
The Crown Prince Couple and Mr Ole Sohn attend an official welcoming luncheon at the Blue House, hosted by the President of South Korea, Mr Lee Myung-bak, and his wife, Lady Kim Yoon-ok.

13:15
The Crown Prince Couple and Mr Ole Sohn attend celebrations to mark the fifth anniversary of Coloplast in South Korea at the Shilla Hotel. During the celebration, Coloplast will make a donation to the South Korean Gastro-Intestine Surgical Association.

Friday May 11th - Yeosu
18:00
The Crown Prince Couple and Mr Ole Sohn attend a dinner hosted by the South Korean Government in conjunction with EXPO 2012. They will then attend the opening ceremony of EXPO 2012.


Saturday May 12th - Yeosu
09:30
The Crown Prince Couple and Mr Ole Sohn visit the Danish Pavillion at EXPO 2012.

10:30
The Crown Prince Couple visit the Australian Pavillion at EXPO 2012.

11:10
The Crown Prince Couple and Mr Ole Sohn visit the South Korean Pavillion at EXPO 2012.

14:40
The Crown Prince Couple and Mr Ole Sohn visit the Daewoo Shipyard in Okpo, where they will intersect the first pieces of steel on the first Mærsk 'Triple E' container ship. The 'Triple E' container ships are being launched as the largest and most environmentally-friendly container ships in the world.


Sunday May 13th - Seoul
10:00
The Crown Prince Couple and Mr Ole Sohn attend the opening of the clothing designer Peter Jensen's exhibtion at the Museum of Modern Art at Seoul's National University.

11:00
The Crown Prince Couple and Mr Ole Sohn attend the opening of the George Jensen exhibition at Corso Como.

13:30
The Crown Prince Couple, Mr Ole Sohn and the Danish Minister for Trade and Investment, Ms Pia Olsen Dyhr, visit 'The Joint Security Area' in the demilitarised zone between South and North Korea.

16:00
The Crown Prince Couple attend the opening of the Danish film festival 'Crown of Danish Film' at the Cinemateque. They will be greeted by the South Korean Minister for Culture, Sport and Tourism, Mr Kwang-Shik Choe. They will then view an exhibition of Danish film posters.

17:00
The Crown Prince visits the LEGO Historical Wall at the LEGO Art Gallery, the Olympic Stadium. He will be involved in the placement of the last block on the record-high 'LEGO World's Tower'.


Monday May 14th - Seoul
09:30

The Crown Prince will participate in a business seminar dealing with conflict, C02-neutral technology, offshore and food technology at the Grand Hyatt.
The Crown Princess will participate in a business seminar dealing with food and gastronomy, design and architecture at the Grand Hyatt.
The Crown Prince Couple view an exhibition on Danish products and innovation solutions.

11:30
The Crown Princess will participate in a food demonstration alongside the owner of Michelin-star winning restaurant AOC, Christian Arøe, at the Grand Hyatt.

14:15
The Crown Prince Couple attend the celebrations to mark the first anniversary of Leo Pharma in South Korea at the Shilla Hotel. There will be a donation presentation during the celebration.

15:45
The Crown Prince visits SK Energy, where he will be shown South Korean telecommunications technology in smart phones. He will then be present during the signing ceremony between SK Energy and Haldor Topsøe.

17:00
The Crown Prince has a meeting with Dr You at the Shilla Hotel. As a student, Dr You wrote to King Frederik IX expressing a desire to study in Denmark. He received an invitation to come to Denmark and study with the Foreign Ministry. Upon his return to South Korea, Dr You became an advisor to the then-President Park.

19:00
The Crown Prince Couple, Mr Ole Sohn, Mr Christian Friis Bach and the Danish Minister for Education, Mr Morten Østergaard, attend a gala dinner at the Shilla Hotel. Entertainment will be provided by Danish artists Thomas Helmig, Poul Reimann and the Uppercut Dance Theatre; and fashion shows will given by Day Birger et Mikkelsen, Fleye and Kopenhagen Fur.


Tuesday May 15th - Seoul
09:20
The Crown Prince opens the second meeting of the South Korean-Danish Green Growth Alliance at the Shilla Hotel. He will also be present for the signing of an agreement contract between public and private South Korean and Danish organisations.

09:45
The Crown Princess meets with members of the association of unmarried mothers and their families.

10:50
The Crown Prince Couple visit the Day Birger et Mikkelsen shop, where they will be greeted by the shop owner, Mr Keld Mikkelsen.

11:00
The Crown Prince Couple open the new 'Pop-Up' store at the Shinsegae Department Store.

11:35
The Crown Prince Couple visit the Royal Copenhagen exhibition at the Shinsegae Department Store.
 
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it looks like a jammed packed program. Looking forward to it
 
Do the couple arrive today night or tomorrow morning? I can't imagine a long flight and straight to work.
I dont understand why they aren't welcomed first then lay the wreath.
Cant wait for this visit to start.
 
Thursday May 10th - Seoul
15:00
The Crown Prince Couple visit the South Korean War Memorial, where they will lay a wreath. A minute's silence will be held, to the tune of Last Post. They will be joined by the Danish Minister for Business and Growth, Mr Ole Sohn.
During the ceremony, both Frederik and Mary also lit incense. Mary also beat a ceremonial gong.

Image One ** Image Two ** Image Three ** Image Four ** Image Five ** Image Six ** Image Seven ** Image Eight

Getty Images Gallery

Zimbio Gallery

16:00
The Crown Prince Couple and Mr Ole Sohn, will be officially welcomed by the Prime Minister of South Korea, Mr Kim Hwang-sik, at the government building.
Image One ** Image Two

From Daylife.
 
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Article from Billed-Bladet (translation), with an accompanying photo gallery. There are two pictures from the couple's arrival in South Korea at the beginning of the gallery.

Photo gallery from Lehtikuva.

Article from Hello Magazine.

Photo gallery from BT.

Thursday May 10th - Seoul
19:00
The Crown Prince Couple and Mr Ole Sohn attend an official dinner hosted by the Prime Minister of South Korea at the Prime Minister's residence. The dinner will also be attended by members of the South Korean Government and members of the official Danish business delegation.

Image One ** Image Two ** Image Three ** Image Four ** Image Five

From Newscom
 
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http://english.yonhapnews.co.kr/national/2012/05/11/86/0301000000AEN20120511002200315F.HTML
Friday May 11th - Seoul 10:45
The Crown Prince Couple visit the Finn Juhls exhibition at the Daelim Contemporary Art Museum. The exhibition will feature Mr Juhls's traditional furniture designs, and is organised to mark the 100th anniversary of his birth.

Image One ** Image Two ** Image Three ** Image Four ** Image Five ** Image Six ** Image Seven

They were shown around the exhibition by Noritsugu Oda, a Japanese chair collector.

Article from Yonhap News about the luncheon with President Lee.
 
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Thank you JessRulz for all the nice pictures :flowers:

I like picture no five of Finn Juhl's sofa 'The Poet'. It's design dates back to 1941 and it became famous in Denmark when it featured in a popular and family-friendly movie "Poeten og Lillemor" from 1959.
 
Thanks, JezzRulz :flowers:

The whole purpose of the visit is again to promote Danish commerce, not least Danish design, hence the focus on furnitures, fur, exclusive glasses and fashion.
Interestingly, the growing middle class in the Far East, especially China, who are the main targets for the consumer products, think differently than similar target groups elsewhere in the world.
The bed-lining chain Jysk, which specialise in cheap, yet god quality pillows, duvets and so on, have had success practically whereever they open a store. But they have so far flunked in China.
Reason: The Chinese middle class want status. So affordable bed lining from what is almost seen as a discount-chain is not that interesting for Chinese consumers. They prefer to buy more exclusive brands, from more exclusive stores at a much higher price.
So fairly expensive Danish design is just what the middleclass is looking for.

The visit has been well covered here in DK so far. The insence that Mary was to light during the wreath laying ceremony is in honour of the UN soldiers who were killed during the Korean War. (The war isn't formally over). Unfortunately Mary's lighter malfunctioned.
The whole ceremony was to a large extent prepared by a Danish officer stationed in Korea, on behalf of the UN. We saw on TV how he briefed M&F's adjutant in detail, so that he could guide M&F later on.

I think Mary looked great during that ceremony. Simple elegance. - That's the way to do it.

I found the banging on the huge drum interesting. Can someone in the know enlighten us to what that was about? :)

Mary is accompanied on this trip by her hairdresser, Søren Hedegaard and her chambermaid, Tina Jørgensen. And as such it's likely that Frederik's valet will be there as well.
M&F will stay at Hotel Shilla during their visit.

Frederik will at some point meet a doctor You.
Many years ago, You, who worked as shoe polisher to pay for his studies, wrote a letter to Frederik IX, asking whether he could continue his education in Denmark. A scolarship was granted and You went on to head a major agricultural reform in Korea.

Frederik will also be hoisted up in a crane, so that he can put the final brick on a huge Lego World Tower, build by Korean children.

This is a full scale commercial offensive. So no less than four Danish ministers will accompany M&F:
The Minister for Commerce, Ole Sohn. (He used to be a Communist, no longer! He's also pragmatic and I like that, eventhough I wouldn't dream of voting for his party).
Minister for Trade and Investments, Pia Olsen Dyhr.
Minister for Education and Innovation, Morten Østergaard. (Whom I would very much like to knock on the head).
And Minister for Development, Christian Friis Bach.
This visit is about serious money! Hence the absence of the Foreign Minister. The diplomatic aspect was taken care of at recent visit by the PM, Helle Thorning.

ADDED: Two clips from TV2 http://nyhederne.tv2.dk/article.php/id-50305234:video-mary-bes%C3%B8ger-kr%C3%A6ftsyge-b%C3%B8rn.html

Where Mary visited a ward for children with cancer.
She said afterwards that it of course affects you to see children with cancer but also that she noted how well they were taken care of.
(Notice the PET officer behind her and the Korean security officer in the background).

76 Danish companies accompany M&F to Korea.

A 36 pics gallery from TV2: http://galleri.tv2.dk/Nyhederne/50276692/0/

A background article from TV2: http://nyhederne.tv2.dk/article.php/id-50276189:galleri-mary-laver-håndtegn-i-sydkorea.html

Korea is considered an overlooked market. There are 48 million consumers there, who can be compared to Danish consumers in regards to the money they have to spend.
On top of that most live with their parents until they marry and in the meantime thay have plenty of money to spend.
Korea is also the country from where most adopted children in DK come from.

A gellary with fairly large pics from Berlingske Tidende: http://www.b.dk/billedeserier/kronprinsparret-besoeger-sydkorea



I'm a sucker for details :p so let's have a look at the TV2 gallery again: TV 2 Gallery

#1: The officer carrying the wreath behind M&F is their adjutant, from the army and wearing the dress uniform.
The tall navy officer behind them is the Danish officer, who is working as a part of the UN contingent still stationed there. DK contributed with a hospital ship during the Korean War. It was he who briefed the adjutant. He is kaptajnløjtnant = lieutenant commander = kapitänleutnant. (The Danish system of ranks follow the German system).

#3: The Last Post is played. Notice the adjutant saluting. The salute with the hand at a right angle is peculiar to the Danish army. It's also pretty akward.

#4: The keen eyed will notice that PET is present.

#6, 7 & 8: Notice the drumsticks, or whatever you call them, when they are that big. Frederik got a blue one, while Mary used a red. Wonder why?

#19: The honour guard is interesting. Notice the yellow guards cord and the red stripes on the upper arms, signifying service length. So these are professional soldiers. I see there are no magazines in the M-16 rifles.

#21: I wish we had a close up of their badge, but they look like marine infantry to me.

#28: This is where Mary's lighter caused trouble.

Notice the colourbearers in the background. One of course holding the UN flag, but I can't make out the nationality. One is holding the Korean flag (does it have a name?) and a third Dannebrog. That however is an American soldier and not a Danish soldier. The colourguards are a very tall Korean soldier and a US army soldier, wearing the gala uniform and the M-14 rifle, now only used for ceremonial duty.
 
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Crown Prince Frederic's taste is quite interesting. I always like his shoes.
 
YEOSU, SOUTH KOREA - MAY 11: THR Prince Frederik of Denmark and Crown Princess Mary of Denmark attend at the opening ceremony of the 2012 Yeosu Expo on May 11, 2012 in Yeosu, South Korea. More than 105 countries, 10 International Organizations and 10 million visitors are expected to participate in the expo that will open to the public on May 12 to August 12.

Picture
 
Thank you Muhler for that information about Danish and Korean commerce. Are you saying that 78 company representatives are accompanying MF on this trip??
Very interesting about the Korean adoptees in Denmark.
 
Thank you Muhler for that information about Danish and Korean commerce. Are you saying that 78 company representatives are accompanying MF on this trip??
Very interesting about the Korean adoptees in Denmark.

Representatives for 76 companies are accompanying M&F on this trip.

I read an article about one of the companies yesterday, Coloplast, which manufacture various supplies for the hospitals.
They had of course been in contact with various Korean businesses from home.
The large number has partly to do with the EXPO exhibition and partly to do with the royal effect.
M&F are royals, that's always a bit glamourous and interesting, or at least different.
On top of that they are a young and attractive couple, - even better!

This is a new market, so a Korean business man, going to the exhibition or a dinner, out of curiosity or because of his wife, is almost certain to meet several Danish representatives within his branch.

To put it simple. What is more interesting:
A) Come to dinner and let's have a chat about our products and you can meet our Minister for Trade, XX.
or
B) Come to dinner and let's have a chat about our products and you can meet our young and attractive looking CP couple.

- We are basically a nation of used-horse-dealers. :p

You will see a lot of now adult adoptees from Korea in good positions if you go to DK.
It's very difficult to adopt here, so that means people from the middleclass and up, with a steady family life, good income and good jobs are de facto the only ones who can adopt.
So their (adopted) children tend to get a better education and better jobs than average.

ADDED:

http://jp.dk/udland/asien/article2775579.ece

A fairly rare article about M&F from Jyllands Posten. - Jyllands Posten is very much a business paper. It's also the largest paper in DK and for those of us, who life outside Copenhagen, it's also the main national paper. The two other national papers Politiken and Berlingske are both very much Copenhagener papers.

Okay, M&F attended the EXPO exhibition. Everything was organised and the setting and visual effects vere perfect. Alas, the Danish stand is located next to the stand from Turkmenistan and the played traditional music at full throttle, completely drowning out the sppeches by the Minister for Trade and his Korean counterpart. - That sort of things happen....
Okay, cue M&F. They suddenly felt an urge for some coffee and with crowds of photographers trailing behind they went the nearest Starbuck for a cup of coffee. Starbuck probably wasn't displeased....
It also perplexed the security guards a bit.

It's a Danish company that handles the daily lightshow in connection with the exhibition, so DK is already ensured a good deal of attention.
M&F were on the news last night. They were sitting among the audience watching the exhibition. Unfortunately Mary was wearing a light dress and the wind coming in from the sea was chilly, so we saw Frederik chivalerously handing his wife a blanket.

And we have even more.

A gallery from TV2: TV 2 Gallery

Mary viste prsidenten billeder af brnene - TV 2 Nyhederne

M&F met President Lee Myung-Bak and his wife, Kim Yoon-Ok and here Frederik pulled out his Iphone and showed the President pictures of their children.
That delighted the president, who briefly showed the pics to the press. (See gallery).
Mary then showed him some more pics.
 
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We seem to have a very lovey dovey couple on this tour, it's wonderful.
 
Representatives for 76 companies are accompanying M&F on this trip.

I read an article about one of the companies yesterday, Coloplast, which manufacture various supplies for the hospitals.
They had of course been in contact with various Korean businesses from home.
The large number has partly to do with the EXPO exhibition and partly to do with the royal effect.
M&F are royals, that's always a bit glamourous and interesting, or at least different.
On top of that they are a young and attractive couple, - even better!

This is a new market, so a Korean business man, going to the exhibition or a dinner, out of curiosity or because of his wife, is almost certain to meet several Danish representatives within his branch.

To put it simple. What is more interesting:
A) Come to dinner and let's have a chat about our products and you can meet our Minister for Trade, XX.
or
B) Come to dinner and let's have a chat about our products and you can meet our young and attractive looking CP couple.

- We are basically a nation of used-horse-dealers. :p

You will see a lot of now adult adoptees from Korea in good positions if you go to DK.
It's very difficult to adopt here, so that means people from the middleclass and up, with a steady family life, good income and good jobs are de facto the only ones who can adopt.
So their (adopted) children tend to get a better education and better jobs than average.

ADDED:

Frederik og Mary gik på Starbucks

A fairly rare article about M&F from Jyllands Posten. - Jyllands Posten is very much a business paper. It's also the largest paper in DK and for those of us, who life outside Copenhagen, it's also the main national paper. The two other national papers Politiken and Berlingske are both very much Copenhagener papers.

Okay, M&F attended the EXPO exhibition. Everything was organised and the setting and visual effects vere perfect. Alas, the Danish stand is located next to the stand from Turkmenistan and the played traditional music at full throttle, completely drowning out the sppeches by the Minister for Trade and his Korean counterpart. - That sort of things happen....
Okay, cue M&F. They suddenly felt an urge for some coffee and with crowds of photographers trailing behind they went the nearest Starbuck for a cup of coffee. Starbuck probably wasn't displeased....
It also perplexed the security guards a bit.

It's a Danish company that handles the daily lightshow in connection with the exhibition, so DK is already ensured a good deal of attention.

M&F were on the news last night. They were sitting among the audience watching the exhibition. Unfortunately Mary was wearing a light dress and the wind coming in from the sea was chilly, so we saw Frederik chivalerously handing his wife a blanket.

I saw this clip too. It was really sweet!

Many thanks for all these great pictures and articles. It's always a pleasure to follow our young and lovely Crown prince couple, and especially at these official trips. They seem to really enjoy each other.

Some, who knows about how the weather is right now in South Korea?
 
Look at these trousers! I have yet to see Frederik wearing a suit that actually fits, is not shiny or of velvet material.
http://cache.daylife.com/imageserve/00oyekc21SfY8/x610.jpg

Only temporary.
He only had "water in the basement" for a few seconds. :lol:

It really isn't easy being a man. Either the arms are too long, the legs too short and/or the belly too big. Try find a suit matching all these criterias.

You women don't know how fortunate you are, you can just jump into a dress or a skirt. If it's too short, you are alluring. If it's too long, it's classic.

- I see in some of the photos from the reception in the garden, that Frederik must have bitten the Korean President. Both gentleman have parked their hands in their pockets.
However, judging from the bodylanguage the President seems to appreciate the laid back style.
 
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