King Charles Mentions K-Pop Group BTS, Hit 'Dynamite' During State Banquet Speech

King Charles III shared his knowledge of Korean culture during his speech at the state banquet at Buckingham Palace.

The British monarch and his wife, Queen Camilla, hosted a dinner Tuesday evening in honor of South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol and first lady Kim Keon Hee's state visit to the United Kingdom.

During his speech, King Charles referenced superstar K-Pop band BTS, the group's 2020 hit song "Dynamite," "Parasite" director Bong Joon-ho, and the hit Netflix series "Squid Game" as he compared South Korea's influence on pop culture to that of the U.K.'s.

"It is probably artistic creativity which has brought about the most dramatic shift in Korea's place in the British cultural landscape," the King told the roughly 170 state banquet attendees, as seen in a video uploaded by The Independent. "Korea has matched Danny Boyle with Bong Joon-ho, James Bond with 'Squid Game,' and the Beatles' 'Let It Be' with BTS's 'Dynamite.'"

"Our cultures share a remarkable ability to captivate imaginations across the world, transforming a so-called soft power into a shared superpower," he added.

King Charles also gave a shoutout to K-Pop superstars BLACKPINK, who attended the banquet, as he spoke about environmental commitments.

"It is especially inspiring to see Korea's younger generation embrace the cause," the monarch said. "I applaud Jennie, Jisoo, Lisa and Rosé, better known collectively as BLACKPINK, for their role in bringing the message of environmental sustainability to a global audience as Ambassadors for the U.K.'s Presidency of COP 26, and later as advocates for the U.N. Sustainable Development Goals." 

(Photo : Getty Images/Yui Mok-WPA Pool)
Jisoo, Jennie, Rosé and Lisa, members of South Korean girl band Blackpink attend the State Banquet at Buckingham Palace on November 21, 2023 in London, England.

Jennie, Jisoo, Lisa and Rosé were captured exchanging sweet glances during the special moment in a Sky News video shared to X by Pop Base. 

King Charles went on to reference his last visit to South Korea's capital, Seoul, in 1992 with his then-wife, Princess Diana, and Psy's 2013 viral hit "Gangnam Style."

"I can only admire how they can prioritize these vital issues, as well as being global superstars," he said. "Sadly, when I was in Seoul all those years ago, I am not sure I developed much of what might be called the 'Gangnam Style'!"

The diplomatic dinner closed the first day of President Yoon's visit to the U.K.

Kate Middleton and Prince William also attended the dinner, sitting at the top table alongside King Charles, Queen Camilla, and the South Korean president and first lady.

Earlier that day, the Prince and Princess of Wales greeted Yoon and his wife at their hotel in London on behalf of King Charles.