First lady meets Japanese students majoring in Korean language

First lady Kim Hea Kyung, second frm left, claps her hands during her meeting with students majoring in Korean language at Mejiro University in Tokyo, Sunday. Yonhap

First lady Kim Hea Kyung met with Japanese students studying Korean at a university in Tokyo on Sunday and voiced hope for deeper cultural exchanges between young people of the two neighboring nations.

Kim, accompanying President Lee Jae Myung on his trip to Japan, visited Mejiro University, which celebrates the 20th anniversary of opening its Korean language major this year.

"I hear that the popularity of K-pop and K-dramas among Japanese youth has expanded into interest in Korean food, fashion and beauty, and now this interest is turning toward the Korean language," Kim said.

She said learning Korean can help foster mutual understanding and goodwill between Korean and Japanese youth through a shared language, and ultimately contribute to strengthening bilateral ties.