Moments Between Prabowo and the South Korean President: From Finger Heart to 'Anabul' Diplomacy
The diplomatic meeting between President Prabowo Subianto and South Korean President Lee Jae Myung was not only marked by serious discussions but also by warm moments that captured attention. Amid the official agenda, the two appeared friendly through the ‘finger heart’ gesture and casual interactions dubbed ‘anabul’ diplomacy.
The meeting between Prabowo and President Lee took place on Wednesday (1/3/2026) at the Presidential Palace of the Republic of Korea, Cheong Wa Dae (Blue House). The encounter began with a state welcoming ceremony for Prabowo, followed by bilateral talks and a lunch banquet.
During the lunch banquet, Carmen, a member of the Indonesian K-pop group Hearts2Hearts, was present. This drew the attention of Prabowo and President Lee. The three then posed for a photo together, compactly making the finger heart symbol, a pose used by K-pop idols for their fans.
Carmen, whose full name is Nyoman Ayu Carmenita, is the first Indonesian citizen to debut under SM Entertainment, one of South Korea’s largest entertainment agencies.
Another attention-grabbing moment occurred when Prabowo gave a gift to President Lee. This happened during a casual chat at a Friendship Event in the Garden of Sangchungjae, still within the South Korean Presidential Palace complex.
During the visit, Prabowo presented several flagship Indonesian SME crafts, including a Balinese keris and characteristic East Javanese ceramic vase. The gifts reflect Indonesia’s cultural richness while embodying creative economic diplomacy to introduce local products to the international world.
In addition, Prabowo gave a gift to President Lee’s pet dog. Prabowo presented a scarf and necklace to the dog, which turns out to be named Bobby, similar to the name of his own pet cat.
Cabinet Secretary Teddy Indra Wijaya stated that Prabowo’s diplomatic approach is not solely for relations between the two countries but also touches on personal closeness.
“Diplomacy is not just meetings and official agendas, but how personal relationships between leaders can be established and leave a good impression in the heart,” said Cabinet Sec. Teddy.
At the same time, President Lee bestowed the highest honour upon Prabowo, namely the ‘Grand Order of Mugunghwa’, presented directly. The Grand Order of Mugunghwa is the Republic of Korea’s highest national award, specifically given to the President of the Republic of Korea and spouse, as well as heads of state or former heads of state from friendly countries and their spouses. This award is given for extraordinary services in supporting the development and security of the Republic of Korea.
On that occasion, the Government of the Republic of Korea awarded the honour to President Prabowo as a form of appreciation for his contributions and role in strengthening bilateral relations between Indonesia and the Republic of Korea, including elevating the partnership status of the two countries to a Special Comprehensive Strategic Partnership.
During the visit to South Korea, Prabowo and Lee agreed to enhance bilateral cooperation through a special comprehensive strategic partnership, with Indonesia becoming the only country in the world to have such a partnership with South Korea.
Furthermore, Prabowo witnessed the announcement and exchange of 10 memorandums of understanding (MoUs) between Indonesia and South Korea. In those agreements, Prabowo brought home investments worth $10.2 billion or approximately Rp173 trillion.
“In the meeting, MoUs worth $10.2 billion or about Rp173 trillion were signed,” said Coordinating Minister for the Economy Airlangga Hartarto.
Airlangga explained that the cooperation covers various strategic sectors, including energy and green transition, such as solar power, carbon capture and storage (CCS), and renewable energy. Additionally, the cooperation includes the industrial and manufacturing sectors like steel, batteries, and eco-friendly transportation.
“The investments also include the digital and AI sectors. Then property and infrastructure, including development in Bumi Serpong Damai, and business and association cooperation between Kadin and KCCI, especially to encourage business commitments,” he continued.
Moreover, Airlangga mentioned that several major Korean companies are strengthening their investment commitments in Indonesia, including POSCO’s steel industry development and Lotte’s investment interest, which opens opportunities for collaboration with Danantara as an investment partner.