The huge civilian entourage Seoul sent to the latest inter-Korean summit includes the third-generation heir of South Korea's largest business group and a Colorado-born pop diva nicknamed the "Korean Beyonce."
President Moon Jae-in's office said the 52-member "special" entourage will help promote civil exchanges and engagement with younger Koreans. The activities planned for the civilians who arrived with Moon on Tuesday in the North Korean capital have not been formally announced.
Some experts believe Moon is preparing for the resumption of inter-Korean economic cooperation projects after diplomacy eventually yields results. Currently, all major joint economic projects between the Koreas remain stalled because of U.S.-led sanctions.
FILE - In this Feb. 5, 2018, file photo, Lee Jae-yong, vice chairman of Samsung Electronics, arrives at the Seoul High Court for a hearing in Seoul, South Korea. South Korean President Moon Jae-in heads to his meeting with North Korea’s leader with a huge civilian entourage including the third-generation heir of South Korea’s largest business group and a Colorado-born pop diva nicknamed the “Korean Beyonce.” The inclusion of billionaire Samsung scion Lee Jae-yong in the South Korean delegation has been a controversial decision as he has been a key figure in the corruption scandal surrounding former South Korean President Park Geun-hye. (AP PhotoAhn Young-joon, Pool, File)
FIEL - In this Feb. 9, 2018, file photo, North Korea's Jong Su Hyon, left, and South Korea's Park Jong-ah carry the torch in the stadium during the opening ceremony of the 2018 Winter Olympics in Pyeongchang, South Korea. South Korean President Moon Jae-in heads to his meeting with North Korea’s leader with a huge civilian entourage including the third-generation heir of South Korea’s largest business group and a Colorado-born pop diva nicknamed the “Korean Beyonce.” Park is also included in the South Korean delegation. (AP PhotoPetr David Josek, File)
FILE - In this June 27, 2012 photo, Hyun Jung-hwa, the head coach of South Korea's Olympic women table tennis team, left, talks with Yoo Nam-kyu, Olympic men's table tennis team player, at the National Training Center in Seoul, South Korea. South Korean President Moon Jae-in heads to his meeting with North Korea’s leader with a huge civilian entourage including the third-generation heir of South Korea’s largest business group and a Colorado-born pop diva nicknamed the “Korean Beyonce.” Hyun Jung-hwa, a retired table tennis player who played on a combined inter-Korean team in the 1991 World Championships, is also included in the South Korean delegation. (AP PhotoAhn Young-joon, File)
South Korean President Moon Jae-in and his wife Kim Jung-sook wave before leaving for the Pyongyang, North Korea, at the Seoul military airport in Seongnam, South Korea, Tuesday, Sept. 18, 2018. (Pyongyang Press Corps Pool via AP)