Korea-Sweden society to host meeting for king

Swedish King Carl XVI Gustaf is scheduled to attend a meeting with about 300 prominent figures in culture, art and education from Korea and his country in Seoul on Wednesday, the Korea Sweden Cultural Society said.

The king and Queen Silvia of Sweden will arrive here Tuesday for a four-day stay. He will be the first Swedish monarch to visit Korea.

“The event will provide a chance to strengthen friendly relations and cultural cooperation between Korea and Sweden,” Lee Se-woong, president of the society, said in a statement.

During the visit, he plans to hold talks with President Lee Myung-bak on Wednesday. Lee visited Stockholm in 2009 in commemoration of the 50th anniversary of diplomatic ties between the two nations.

The royal couple will also visit the Yeosu Expo, tour the Demilitarized Zone and meet business leaders from both countries, the Swedish Embassy said.

By Shin Hyon-hee (heeshin@heraldcorp.com)