From menus featuring American beef and ketchup to the gifting of a massive replica gold crown, Donald Trump's welcome to South Korea appeared carefully crafted to please the US president.
Mr Trump touched down in Gyeongju on Wednesday, local time for the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) leaders' summit — the final stop on his whirlwind tour through Asia.
The visit resulted in the US agreeing to share close-held technology with South Korea which would allow them to build a nuclear-powered submarine.
But it was also marked by fanfare, luxury meals — and plenty of gold.
Trump awarded South Korea's highest honour
The warm welcome began before Mr Trump even landed — with US and South Korean warplanes escorting Air Force One on approach.
A local military band greeted the US president on the tarmac with a rendition of "YMCA" while guns fired a salute.
South Korean President Lee Jae Myung awarded Mr Trump the "Grand Order of Mugunghwa" — named after South Korea's national flower, a pink hibiscus also known as the Rose of Sharon.
"I'd like to wear it right now," Mr Trump said.
The award is the country's highest decoration, with a South Korean official saying Mr Trump was the first US president to receive the honour.
It was granted in recognition of US president's role as "peacemaker" on the Korean peninsula, Mr Lee's office said.
A replica gold crown
South Korea's president also gifted Mr Trump a replica of the golden Cheonmachong crown.
The original was once worn by rulers of the ancient Silla kingdom, which ruled about a third of the Korean peninsula until the 9th century.
"This symbolises the history of Silla, which maintained a long-term era of peace on the Korean Peninsula, and a new era of peaceful coexistence and common growth on the Korean Peninsula that the United States and South Korea will work together for," Mr Lee's office said in a statement.
Mr Lee also sported a custom gold tie, which his office said "reflects President Trump's taste for gold, captures the golden future of the South Korea-US alliance and the status of South Korea".
Ketchup, beef patties and gilded brownies
The two leaders later met for a working lunch crafted "according to President Trump's preferences".
This included appetisers combining fine Korean seafood — shrimps, scallops and abalone — with Thousand Island salad dressing.
Mr Lee's office said this was a nod to Mr Trump's "success story in his hometown of New York".
Also on the menu were "mini beef patties with ketchup" and a "Korean Platter of Sincerity" featuring US beef and local rice and soybean paste.
The lunch wrapped with a "Peacemaker's Dessert" of gilded brownies, served on plates decorated with the word "PEACE!"
Luxury dinner featuring Trump wines
Later that day, the Korean president hosted an exclusive "special dinner" in honour of Mr Trump and "state leaders".
Also invited were Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese, Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney and the leaders of New Zealand, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam.
The luxury multi-course meal featured the finest ingredients from across Korea, including flatfish paired with caviar and sirloin steak with pine mushrooms.
The dishes were paired with Trump Chardonnay and Trump Cabernet Sauvignon from a winery run by Mr Trump's son, Eric Trump.
Mr Trump, who doesn't drink, was given a glass of cola alongside his wine.
Hot mic moment with world leaders
At the beginning of the dinner, Mr Trump praised South Korea for its warm welcome.
"You rolled out a red carpet that was a very good red carpet, a beautiful red carpet," he said.
The dinner also featured a brief hot mic moment between Mr Trump and other leaders at the dinner.
"I'm meeting with President Xi tomorrow morning," he said, referring to his long-anticipated meeting with Chinese leader Xi Jinping.
"Three hour meeting – three, four hours … go home."
He also said he would try to talk to North Korea.
"You have a neighbour that hasn't been as nice as they could be, and I think they will be," he said.
"I know Kim Jong Un very well, and I think things will work out very well."
ABC/Wires
