President Yoon Suk Yeol and first lady Kim Keon Hee on July 10 greet U.S. Sen. Pete Ricketts, a Republican from Nebraska, at a restaurant while taking a walk in the old town of Vilnius, Lithuania. (Yonhap News)

By Park Hye Ri
 

President Yoon Suk Yeol on July 10 met by chance the delegation of a U.S. senator in the old town of the Lithuanian capital of Vilnius, which is hosting a NATO summit, and sang "American Pie" together. 

In the evening, President Yoon took a walk around the old town to adjust to the time difference and manage his condition after arriving in the Baltic nation. He ran into on the way U.S. Sen. Pete Ricketts, a Republican representing Nebraska, presidential spokesperson Lee Do Woon said in a news briefing on July 11.

Eating at a table outside of a restaurant, Sen. Ricketts recognized the presidential couple on the street and greeted them. He thanked President Yoon for his wonderful speech in April to a joint session of Congress during his state visit to the U.S. and said he looked forward to a meeting with the president the next morning.

"The U.S. delegation recognized President Yoon while having dinner outside of a restaurant and sang 'American Pie' together," spokesperson Lee said. "Residents of Vilnius also recognized the Korean president and waved and sang together."

In his state visit to the U.S., President Yoon on April 26 at a state dinner sang the Don McLean song at the request of his American counterpart Joe Biden.

Also on July 10, the presidential couple ran into European Council President Charles Michel and his wife while taking a walk.

Michel said he was glad to see President Yoon on the streets of Vilnius and thanked him for the hospitality he received during his Korea visit in May.

From the 13th century, Vilnius was the center of the Grand Duchy of Lithuania. The city's old town is registered as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

hrhr@korea.kr