SEOUL: US President Joe Biden was given an honorary Korean name, Bae Ji-sung, as part of a week-long celebration to mark the end of the Korean War. The President was given the name by the Republic of Korea-US Alliance Friendship Association, as per reports.
"We, the Republic of Korea-US Alliance Friendship Association, are honoured to announce and grant US President Joseph Robinette Biden Jr. a Korean name. His name will be Bae Ji-sung," the association said in a statement.
Kurt Campbell, the deputy assistant to the president and National Security Council coordinator for the Indo-Pacific, received the honour. According to the association, Biden's Korean surname comes from Pyeongtaek, a city 60 kilometres south of Seoul that is home to the majority of the 28,500-strong US Forces Korea. It was added that his first name, Ji-sung, signifies region and star.
"The deeper and more significant reason behind bestowing the name 'Bae Ji-sung' is to continue thinking about and upholding peace on the Korean Peninsula while he continues to contribute to world peace," the affiliated said.
The move comes as the two countries prepare to commemorate the 69th anniversary of the end of the 1950-1953 Korean War on Wednesday.
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