InterviewMeet Korean master artisan behind golden crown presented to Trump

Craftsman Kim Jin-bae works on a replica of the gold crown from Cheonmachong Tomb from Silla Dynasty, which was presented as a gift to U.S. President Donald Trump during his state visit to Korea on Wednesday. Courtesy of Kim Jin-bae

GYEONGJU, North Gyeongsang Province — For 40 years, master craftsman Kim Jin-bae has dedicated his life to replicating ancient Korean artifacts, mostly Silla-era jewelry and crowns from more than a millennium ago.

But nothing quite compared to the work he has done this October.

Kim made a golden crown as a gift for U.S. President Donald Trump, presented by President Lee Jae Myung during their summit on the sidelines of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) meetings on Wednesday.

"About a month ago, I recieved contact from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs," Kim said in a phone interview with The Korea Times, Friday. "They asked me to make a special gift for the APEC summit. Only later, as the summit approached, did I learn it would be for President Trump when they requested a nameplate."

Kim runs Samseonbang, a small workshop in Gyeongju Folk Craft Village, where he has spent decades preserving Korea’s cultural heritage through delicate replicas. After receiving the call, Kim and his son, who assists him there, spent about 20 days working more than 10 hours a day to complete the glittering golden replica crown, inspired by the one found in Cheonmachong Tomb — one of the most iconic relics of the Silla Dynasty (57 B.C.-A.D. 935).

The original crown, which stands 32.5 centimeters tall with a diameter of 20 centimeters, is designated as a national treasure and is on display at Gyeongju National Museum.

President Lee Jae Myung shakes hands with U.S. President Donald Trump as the U.S. leader receives a gold replica crown as a gift during a welcoming ceremony at Gyeongju National Museum in Gyeongju, North Gyeongsang Province, Wednesday. Joint Press Corps

The gift symbolized the beginning of a new era of peaceful coexistence and shared growth between Korea and the United States, Seoul officials said, while honoring the U.S. president's leadership and prestige.

"I wouldn't say the gift was much different from the crowns I usually make in terms of size or how I make it," Kim said. "It had a nameplate noting it was from President Lee to President Trump, and it included the date along with the national flags of both countries."

The crown was presented during a welcoming ceremony, where Trump, known for his fondness for gold, said, "It’s so beautiful. Truly special." He reportedly instructed his aides to display it in prominently in the White House museum.

According to Seoul's presidential office, the gift traveled aboard Air Force One when Trump departed Korea on Thursday. The original plan had been to send it separately through the foreign ministry, but Trump requested it to be loaded directly onto the plane.

"It is truly an honor to create something for our country, and I'm glad to hear that the U.S. president liked it. I'm also happy knowing that I contributed to the important agreements at the Korea-U.S. summit," Kim said. "It's meaningful that something I made will now be known around the world."