RRI.CO.ID, Jakarta - Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto’s state visit to South Korea was marked not only by high-level diplomacy but also by a lighthearted cultural moment.

During a luncheon at the South Korean presidential palace Cheong Wa Dae (Blue House), President Prabowo joined South Korean President Lee Jae Myung and Indonesian K-pop idol Carmen of Hearts2Hearts (H2H) in posing with the popular “finger heart” gesture.

Quoting Antara, President Prabowo was seen smiling beside Carmen, with President Lee standing on her other side. The trio’s gesture, widely recognized among K-pop fans, was later shared on Lee’s official social media account.

Carmen -- whose full name is Nyoman Ayu Carmenita -- is the first Indonesian artist to debut under SM Entertainment, one of South Korea’s largest entertainment agencies. She attended the luncheon as a guest in the official program of President Prabowo’s visit.

Beyond the cultural highlight, President Prabowo and President Lee agreed to strengthen bilateral ties through a special comprehensive strategic partnership, an exclusive framework that Indonesia alone holds with South Korea.

The visit also featured the signing and exchange of 10 memoranda of understanding (MoUs) and the conferral of South Korea’s highest honor, The Grand Order of Mugunghwa, on President Prabowo.

President Prabowo Subianto arrived in Seoul, South Korea, on Tuesday, March 31, 2026, at around 7:15 p.m. local time. He landed at Seongnam Military Air Base aboard the Garuda Indonesia-1 aircraft, where he was welcomed with full military honors, including a guard of honor and a 21-gun salute.

His state visit included a warm reception at his hotel by the Indonesian diaspora and an official luncheon at the Blue House. At his hotel, he was greeted by citizens who had waited since the afternoon, including children in traditional attire presenting flowers.

For many Indonesians in South Korea, the encounter was deeply personal. Khairul, a postgraduate student at KAIST, said he felt motivated after a brief conversation with the President.

Pujianti, a doctoral student at Seoul National University from East Nusa Tenggara, expressed pride at meeting Prabowo abroad, noting how difficult it would have been to see him in Jakarta.

Rima, an Indonesian long settled in South Korea, voiced gratitude for the chance to welcome the President, hoping the visit would further strengthen ties between the two nations.

Earlier, President Prabowo and his entourage departed Tokyo's Haneda Airport at 5:15 p.m. local time, following a series of official engagements that included a state audience with Emperor Naruhito and a meeting with Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi.

President Prabowo Subianto returned to Halim Perdanakusuma Air Force Base in Jakarta early Thursday morning, April 2, concluding his official visits to Japan and South Korea. Garuda Indonesia-1, carrying the President and his delegation, touched down at 12:01 a.m. local time following its departure from Seongnam Military Air Base in Seoul on Wednesday night, April 1. ***