President Park Geun-hye returned home Friday evening after completing a six-day visit to the United States, where she reaffirmed her robust alliance with President Barack Obama and promised closer cooperation with U.S. investors.

Park continued to promote her “creative business” drive in Los Angeles, the last stop of her tour. She held a debate with Korean and American businesspeople from technology, cultural and other various sectors, whom she called “exemplary models” of successful creative business.

In the debate’s opening remarks, Park said, “Creative economy can be realized when creativity and imagination are grafted onto science technology and information and communications technology, and when industry and industry, or industry and culture converge together.”

She emphasized that creative economy must be driven by the private sector, and the government should be responsible for creating a safety net for businesses that fail and rewarding ideas.

In a closing speech, Park mentioned the “Man in Korean costume” by Peter Paul Rubens (1577-1640) currently showing at the Getty Museum, where the debate was held.

According to the Getty Museum, the drawing is considered one of Ruben’s most meticulous depictions; how he came into contact with Korean silk robes and transparent headdress in Antwerp remains a mystery as contact between Europe and Korea was almost nonexistent in his time.

“It is hoped that the country of hanbok featured in Ruben’s work can become the powerful nation of new creative economy,” Park said.

Before leaving for Seoul, Park attended a luncheon hosted by L.A. Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa.

By Lee Joo-hee (jhl@heraldcorp.com)