FILE: Seoul, ROK - July 16, 2022 (CGTN - No access Chinese mainland)
1. National flag of Republic of Korea (ROK)

FILE: Seoul, Republic of Korea - Date Unknown (CCTV - No access Chinese mainland)
2. Various of traffic flow in Gwanghwamun Square

Seoul, Republic of Korea - Dec 31, 2025 (CGTN - No access Chinese mainland)
3. SOUNDBITE (Korean) Jang Dong Il, street food vendor:
"More exchanges between the two countries would boost the two economies. I am full of hope for a strong cooperation between President Lee Jae-myung and President Xi Jinping."

FILE: Gyeongju, Republic of Korea - Nov 1, 2025 (CCTV - No access Chinese mainland)
4. National flags of China, ROK

Seoul, Republic of Korea - Dec 31, 2025 (CGTN - No access Chinese mainland)
5. SOUNDBITE (Korean) Jang Dong Il, street food vendor:
"I have high hopes for this meeting between our countries' leaders. President Lee Jae Myung is visiting China between January 4 and January 7, to discuss economic, cultural and tourism exchanges. I understand about 200 to 300 South Korean corporate executives traveled with him. I have high hopes for this. If this visit helps strengthen relations between two leaders, I believe it could lead to a win-win outcome and bring ROK and China closer together."

FILE: Seoul, Republic of Korea - Date Unknown (CCTV - No access Chinese mainland)
6. Statue of King Sejong
7. Traffic

Seoul, Republic of Korea - Dec 31, 2025 (CGTN - No access Chinese mainland)
8. SOUNDBITE (Korean) Noh Yun Ji, teacher:
"The leaders' meeting can spark dynamic exchanges in economy and culture. More exchanges between the two countries would boost the two economies. I am full of hope for a strong cooperation between President Lee Jae-myung and President Xi Jinping."
9. SOUNDBITE (Korean) Kim Yoon Jung, Seoul resident:
"The two can complement each other economically and continue to develop."

FILE: Seoul, Republic of Korea - April 22, 2018 (CCTV - No access Chinese mainland)
10. Traffic

FILE: Gyeongju, Republic of Korea - Oct 31-Nov 1, 2025 (CCTV - No access Chinese mainland)
11. National flags of China, ROK

Seoul, Republic of Korea - Dec 31, 2025 (CGTN - No access Chinese mainland)
12. SOUNDBITE (Korean) Yoon Ji Eun, dancer:
"This summer, I took a trip to Shanghai, and after seeing it for myself, I found the food was to my taste, and the city was modern and clean. So I came to see China as a captivating country."
13. SOUNDBITE (Korean) Noh Yun Ji, teacher:
"First of all, China is a very large country. And the food is delicious. I enjoy dishes like malatang and hot pot. I love Chinese food."

FILE: Gyeongju, Republic of Korea - Nov 1, 2025 (CCTV - No access Chinese mainland)
14. National flags of China, ROK

Seoul, Republic of Korea - Dec 31, 2025 (CGTN - No access Chinese mainland)
15. SOUNDBITE (Korean) Yoon Ji Eun, dancer:
"Although I don't know much about this, as I mentioned, I went to Shanghai for dance lessons. It shows education can offer cultural experiences."

FILE: Seoul, Republic of Korea - March 2025 (CCTV - No access Chinese mainland)
16. Various of traffic, pedestrians

FILE: Seoul, Republic of Korea - 2023 (CCTV - No access Chinese mainland)
17. Traffic passing Gwanghwamun Gate

FILE: Seoul, Republic of Korea - 2025 (CCTV - No access Chinese mainland)
18. Traffic

Citizens of the Republic of Korea (ROK) have shared their views and expectations for future cooperation with China ahead of President Lee Jae Myung's state visit, which began in Beijing on Sunday.

Lee is making his first visit to China since assuming office in June 2025, with the state visit scheduled to run until Wednesday.

Street food vendor Jang Dong Il said he had high expectations for the visit, hoping it would lead to effective cooperation between the two countries and improvements in the economic environment for mutual benefit.

"More exchanges between the two countries would boost for the two economies. I am full of hope for a strong cooperation between President Lee Jae-myung and President Xi Jinping," he said.

"I have high hopes for this meeting between our countries' leaders. President Lee Jae Myung is visiting China between January 4 and January 7, to discuss economic, cultural and tourism exchanges.I understand about 200 to 300 South Korean corporate executives have traveled with him. I have high hopes for this. If this visit helps strengthen relations between two leaders,I believe it could lead to a win-win outcome and bring ROK and China closer together," Yang said.

"The leaders' meeting can spark dynamic exchanges in economy and culture. More exchanges between the two countries would boost the two economies. I am full of hope for a strong cooperation between President Lee Jae-myung and President Xi Jinping," said Noh Yun Ji, a teacher.

"The two can complement each other economically and continue to develop," said Kim Yoon Jung, a Seoul resident.

Dancer Yoon Ji Eun shared her experience of visiting Shanghai, saying that the delicious food suited her taste and that the city’s fashionable, clean urban environment left her with a positive impression of China.

"Last summer, I took a trip to Shanghai, and after seeing it for myself, I found the food was to my taste, and the city was modern and clean. So I came to see China as a captivating country," Yoon said.

"First of all, China is a very large country. And the food is delicious. I enjoy dishes like malatang and hot pot.I love Chinese food," Noh said.

The ROK citizens also expressed hope for strengthened people to people exchanges with China.

Recalling her time studying dance in China, Yoon said her experience highlighted the role of education in fostering cultural understanding.

"Although I don’t know much about this, as I mentioned, I went to Shanghai for dance lessons. It shows education can offer cultural experiences," she said.