South Korean President Kim Dae Jung on Tuesday invited Emperor Akihito to visit South Korea.
Kim issued the invitation upon leaving the Imperial Palace, where he and his wife, Lee Hee Ho, had dined with the Emperor and Empress Michiko, according to officials of the Imperial Household Agency.
The couples watched the World Cup final together on Sunday in the royal box at International Stadium Yokohama.
Brazil's 2-0 defeat of Germany concluded the monthlong World Cup soccer finals that were cohosted by Japan and South Korea.
Kim last visited the Imperial Palace when he came to Japan as a state guest in October 1998.
The 2002 World Cup finals, held between May 31 and June 30, were the first to be staged in Asia and the first to be cohosted.
Japan was eliminated after reaching the second round while South Korea made it to the semifinals.
South Korea lost to Turkey on Saturday in the third-place playoff game.