Korean TV stars on Thursday gathered for a dinner welcoming Myanmar opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi at the Westin Chosun Hotel in downtown Seoul.

Actors Ahn Jae-wook and Song Il-gook as well as actresses Lee Young-ae, Chae Jung-an and Kim Hyo-jin, were among the guests who were invited by the Nobel Peace Prize winner, who is visiting Korea for the 10th Special Olympics World Winter Games held in Pyeongchang, Gangwon Province.

Ahn was the first to arrive, followed by Lee attired in a gray dress suit. Song, who was the goodwill ambassador for the Korean Film Festival held in Myanmar in 2010, said, “To be invited is an honor.”

According to the Korea Foundation, which organized the event, the dinner was organized upon the request of the democracy activist. “Korean TV drama is in vogue there,” a KF spokesman said.

At the dinner, which was held behind closed doors, Aung San, dressed in traditional Myanmar costume, reportedly said that when she first saw Ahn on TV, she noticed that he looked like one of her acquaintances.

“It was a casual dinner, apart from Aung San’s official schedule,” said the KF spokesman. “We didn’t put too much meaning into it. People were laid back and enjoyed small talk,” he added.

By Bae Ji-sook (baejisook@heraldcorp.com)