The central South Korean city of Dangjin will present a candlestick and traditional Korean liquor as gifts to Pope Francis to thank him for visiting the city during his rare trip to Seoul last summer, city officials said Thursday.
The candlestick symbolizing the first Korean priest Kim Dae-geon and the “Dugyeon liquor of Myeoncheon” will be delivered to the pope by Yoo Heung-sik, bishop of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Daejeon, along with a letter of thanks from the city mayor, when he visits Vatican City to attend a symposium hosted by the Vatican, they said.
The liquor made of azalea petals, sticky rice and malt has a weak yellowish brown color and a sweet flavoring of azalea.
Originated from a small village called Myeoncheon in Dangjin, 123 kilometers south of Seoul, it is now one of the country’s intangible cultural properties.
The pontiff attended a gathering of Asian Catholic youth at the Solmoe shrine, the birthplace of the first Korean priest, Kim Dae-geon, in the city during his Aug. 14-18 trip to South Korea.
The candlestick, winner of the gold prize in a city-hosted contest for souvenirs best representing the city, symbolizes the priest, officials said.
The city also plans to complete the construction of a statue of the pope by year-end, they said. (Yonhap)
