Diplomacy Journal Kim Tae Yeon | The original menu from the official banquet hosted by the then President Park Chung-hee and First Lady Yuk Young-soo for President Heinrich Lübke—then President of the Federal Republic of Germany (West Germany)—and the First Lady during their 1967 visit to the Republic of Korea (South) has been revealed shedding new light on the summit diplomacy between the two nations at the time.

Diplomatic records held by the National Archives of Korea indicate that President Lübke visited South Korea from March 2 to March 6, 1967. The relevant documents are preserved as permanent records created by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

The newly revealed menu specifies the date and location—March 3, 1967, in Seoul—offering a direct glimpse into the scene of a South Korean state banquet from 59 years ago.
“Banquet for His Excellency Heinrich Lübke, President of the Federal Republic of Germany”

The Korean-language side of the menu bears the inscription: “Banquet hosted by the President of the Republic of Korea and the First Lady for His Excellency Heinrich Lübke, President of the Federal Republic of Germany, and the First Lady.”

The English side also notes that the banquet was hosted by the South Korean presidential couple in honor of President Lübke and his wife, alongside the date and location: “March 3, 1967 / Seoul.”

The visit was a significant event in the history of summit diplomacy between South Korea and Germany. South Korea’s diplomatic chronology records both President Lübke’s state visit and the joint statement issued by President Park Chung-hee and President Lübke upon the conclusion of the visit. Other contemporary records also reveal a bilingual (Korean and English) menu from the banquet hosted by President Park Chung-hee and the First Lady for President Lübke on March 3, 1967.

From Kimchi and *Sinseollo* to Grilled Ribs: Showcasing the ‘Taste of Korea’ to a State Guest
The menu offers a detailed look at the cuisine South Korea presented to the German president in the 1960s.
Items visible in the photograph include steamed rice, meatball soup (wanja-tang), royal hot pot (*sinseollo*), five-flavor berry punch (omija-hwachae), traditional rice wine (yakju), kimchi, sliced boiled meat (pyeonyuk), fried seaweed snacks (twigak), platter of nine delicacies (gujeolpan), pan-fried battered delicacies (jeonyu-eo), seasoned vegetables (namul), charcoal-grilled beef ribs, braised chicken, potato rice cakes (gamja-danja), pine nut brittle (jat-baksan) and sweet rice balls (gyeongdan), red ginseng tea, and apples. Champagne was also included.

In the English text, sinseollo was listed as "Ambrosia Casserole," omija-hwachae as "Omija Punch," kimchi as "Kimchi," charcoal-grilled beef ribs as "Charcoal Broiled Beefrib," and red ginseng tea as "Ginseng Nectar Tea."
It is particularly noteworthy that KIMCHI / Kimchi was listed as a distinct menu item. This serves as tangible evidence that kimchi—now a globally renowned Korean dish—was served at an official banquet for a German head of state 59 years ago.

The design of the menu is also notable. It features a blue fabric base adorned with gold decorations and traditional patterns, with the vertical heading "Banquet Menu." Inside, the Korean and English menus are arranged side-by-side, designed to introduce Korean culinary culture to the foreign state guest.

South Korea-Germany Summit Diplomacy: From the 1964 Visit to West Germany to the 1967 Visit to South Korea

Prior to President Heinrich Lübke’s visit to South Korea in 1967, President Park Chung-hee had paid an official visit to West Germany in December 1964 at President Lübke’s invitation. That visit served as a pivotal moment for strengthening ties and expanding economic cooperation between the two nations. Exchanges between the leaders continued with President Lübke’s subsequent visit to the Republic of Korea in 1967.

A joint statement by the two leaders was issued during President Lübke’s state visit, and records of this event remain in the Republic of Korea’s diplomatic chronology and the diplomatic archives of the National Archives of Korea.

At the time, both South Korea and West Germany faced the historical reality of national division, and their

bilateral relationship was defined by significant cooperation in economic and technical sectors, as well as people-to-people exchanges.

The official banquet held against this backdrop was more than just a meal; it served as a diplomatic stage where the leaders and governments of both nations could share sentiments of friendship and cooperation.
A Tangible Record of South Korea-Germany Diplomatic History Spanning 59 Years
A single menu card encapsulates various aspects of the era, reflecting the diplomatic protocol, food culture, design aesthetics, and English-language conventions of the time.
In particular, the inclusion of traditional dishes—such as sinseollo (royal hot pot), gujeolpan (platter of nine delicacies), kimchi, grilled *galbi* (ribs), omija-hwachae (magnolia berry punch), and red ginseng tea—at a state banquet demonstrates that South Korea had long recognized cuisine as a vital element of its national culture.

This menu card is the original from the official banquet hosted by President Park Chung-hee and the First Lady for the President of the Federal Republic of Germany, Heinrich Lübke, and his wife on March 3, 1967; it is currently held in the collection of Damhwa Chongsa.

Even after 59 years, the original decorations and the menu—featuring both Korean and English text—remain intact. This artifact holds significant value as a record of modern diplomatic history, offering insight into the history of summit diplomacy between Korea and Germany, state-level protocol, and culinary diplomacy.