The Republic of Korea's ambassador to China, Kwon Young-se, has revealed some details of President Park Geun-hye's trip to China last year that greatly impressed the ROK's first female president.

The theme song of Park's presidential election campaign was performed at a banquet, and a Peking Opera performance chose a famous episode involving Zhao Yun, a heroic figure portrayed in the famous Chinese novel Romance of the Three Kingdoms.

Park, who is familiar with Chinese traditional literature and culture, is a huge fan of Zhao Yun and reportedly once called him her "first love".

"She clearly enjoyed the performances, as she smiled while watching, " Kwon said.

The popular culture of the ROK has witnessed a boom in China recently, and the ambassador noted that the romantic television drama My Love from the Star topped the ratings in China.

Before attending a discussion with college students at Chongqing University in early June, Kwon was amazed to find that the students formed a line to get posters of the drama's leading actor Kim Soo-hyun, which Kwon said was testimony to the actor's widespread appeal in China.

"I watch the drama, and I think it is fantastic," the ambassador said.

-Zhang Yunbi

(China Daily 06/24/2014 page1)