Junhee, did you see the news? When Lee Jae-myung visited China, he openly proposed to the Chinese side that South Korea would like to “extend the loan” of a pair of giant pandas for Gwangju Zoo.

I saw it! It completely went viral on Korean social media. Many people commented, “When pandas arrive, hearts soften.” It’s such a vivid image.

There’s actually cultural meaning behind this. Giant pandas have always been called “envoys of friendship.” When “Fubao” returned to China, tens of thousands of people saw her off in the rain—it was very touching.

Yes, I even edited a video of “Fubao” walking arm in arm with her keeper. The views were incredibly high. Netizens called her a “healing top star.”

That’s the power of language and emotion. There’s a Chinese idiom, “exchange hearts for hearts,” and pandas make it easier for people in both countries to understand each other.

And placing them in Gwangju is a smart move. Not only Seoul gets to see pandas—regional cities can also benefit. It feels very down-to-earth.

But borrowing pandas isn’t simple. It requires professional care and long-term cooperation. It represents trust, not just affection.

Suddenly I feel that learning Chinese is like raising a panda—it takes time, but once you build a bond, you’ll keep caring about it.