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| First lady Kim Keon Hee and actress Angelina Jolie toast during a state dinner hosted by U.S. President Joe Biden and first lady Jill Biden at the White House in Washington, D.C., Wednesday (local time). Yonhap |
By Jun Ji-hye
Korean first lady Kim Keon Hee asked Hollywood star Angelina Jolie to support the movement in Korea to improve animal rights.
Presidential spokesman Lee Do-woon said Thursday (U.S. time) that Kim and Jolie sat next to each other and talked about various topics including human rights, environment and animal rights, during a state dinner hosted by U.S. President Joe Biden and first lady Jill Biden at the White House.
President Yoon Suk Yeol and first lady Kim are in the United States for a state visit marking the 70th anniversary of the two countries' alliance.
"If you support a movement in Korea to improve the rights of animals, it will serve a great impact," Kim told Jolie.
In response, Jolie vowed to join hands to devise ways of strengthening animal rights in Korea, saying that animals have feelings too, according to the spokesman.
The Hollywood star and her 21-year-old son, Maddox Jolie-Pitt, were among the high-profile names to attend the White House state dinner. Maddox is a student at Korea's Yonsei University.
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| Angelina Jolie and Maddox Jolie-Pitt arrive for the White House state dinner, Wednesday (local time). AP-Yonhap |
As Jolie introduced her son to the first lady, Kim said, "I hope to meet you again when you visit Korea to see your son."
Kim has openly committed herself to improving animal rights.
During her meeting with French Foreign Minister Catherine Colonna on April 15, Kim called on Korea and France to work together to enhance animal rights.
Kim has also pledged to make efforts to ban dog meat consumption in Korea before the end of her husband's presidency. However, her activity faced criticism from a group representing dog meat farm owners, who criticized Kim for not remaining neutral as a first lady and siding with certain interest groups.
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