On April 26, 2023, President Joe Biden and first lady Jill Biden hosted their second state dinner at the White House for South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol and first lady Kim Keon Hee. It was an elegant and star-studded affair.
In attendance were Angelina Jolie and her 21-year-old son, Maddox Pitt-Jolie. This mother-son duo have kept a low profile lately, so this was a rare occasion. Maddox attended college in South Korea until the pandemic, so he has special ties to the country.
Angelia looked stunning as always, donning an off-white gown and blazer. She accessorized her look with gold heels and a large pearl necklace. Maddox looked handsome in a traditional black suit with a long jacket. The pair cleaned up nicely for such a special occasion.
Angelina first visited South Korea in 2019 when she dropped Maddox off at Yonsei University for his freshman year. Maddox is studying biochemistry. He had to return home the following year because of the pandemic but plans to continue when allowed to.
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Angelina could not be prouder of Maddox. “I could not be happier about Mad’s choice of university. It is, of course, closed at the moment because of the pandemic. But he’s not transferring school, he’ll be back as soon as things settle,” she told DongA Daily.
“We are all so happy, as a family, that we will have the opportunity to get to know South Korea even better through Maddox, and with him, during his studies,” she added. Maddox is the eldest of six children and takes his responsibilities as a big brother very seriously.
Angelina shares six children with ex-husband Brad Pitt. In addition to Maddox, there is Pax, who is 19; Zahara, age 18; Shiloh, age 16; and twins Knox and Vivienne, who are 14. The family has gone through rough times in recent years with the divorce and allegations Brad was abusive, causing Maddox and Brad to become estranged.
The state dinner Maddox and Angelina attended was celebrating the “70th anniversary of the U.S.-ROK alliance.” This agreement “is critical to advancing peace, stability, and prosperity” for the United States, Korea, and the world at large, according to a press release from the White House. It was a special night.
Angelina and Maddox were not the only celebrities in attendance. Chip and Joanna Gaines were also among the guests at the dinner. Joanna’s mother is Korean, and the extended family recently took a trip to visit Seoul. Joanna shared all about this emotional journey to connect with her mother's past and family she'd never met in person on Instagram.
Rounding out the guest list was Olympic gold medalist Chloe Kim and former LA Dodgers pitcher Chan Ho Park. In 2018, at 17 years old, Chloe became the youngest woman to take home Olympic gold for snowboarding. Chan broke barriers as the first player born in South Korea to play in Major League Baseball.
