President Lee Jae-myung has visited the headquarters of the Sao Paulo Metalworkers' Union, the political symbol of Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva.

President Lula was elected as the union's president in 1975 when it had 100,000 members, and led Brazil's largest-ever strike in 1980. This is considered the starting point of his political journey as a three-time president often referred to as the godfather of South American the left.

Guided by current union president Wellington Damasceno, President Lee toured the metalworkers' union building and the office, which preserves the exact appearance from when President Lula worked there.

President Lee even sat at the desk where President Lula once worked and took a commemorative photo, striking the exact same pose as Lula in a past photograph.

When Damasceno remarked, "President Lula will be very pleased to see this photo," President Lee burst into laughter.

In response to a question from Damasceno, President Lee explained that he also used to make watches, highlighting his background as a former labor worker much like President Lula.

After finishing his visit, President Lee shared his reflections on X (formerly Twitter), writing, "Creating a world where labor is respected is no different in Brazil than it is in the Republic of Korea."

Kang Yu-jung, senior presidential spokesperson, stated, "By visiting this symbolic location where the labor movement played a crucial role centered around President Lula, this was a meaningful occasion that further strengthened the bond between the two leaders and deepened mutual understanding and trust."

(Photo: Yonhap News)