<h6><strong>The Diplomat</strong></h6> <h4><strong>“To collaborate closely in artificial intelligence, R&D, renewable energy and science and technology” with Spain is the goal stated by the South Korean ambassador, Soosuk Lim, during the reception he offered on the occasion of his national holiday, during which he recalled that both countries will celebrate in 2025 the 75th anniversary of their diplomatic ties.</strong></h4> “Korea,” the ambassador said, ”is a strategic partner of the European Union, as well as a global partner of NATO, and will remain a true partner of Spain.” Lim highlighted the similarities between the two countries which, “despite being located at the extremes of the Eurasian continent, we have much in common,” such as “the paths we have traveled in our modern history - from civil war and dictatorship to democracy and economic success - and the fact that our population, our economic power and even the mentality of our people are very similar.” The ambassador explained that “Korea's prominence has been increasing in Spain, as has Spain's presence in Korea”. And he gave as examples, the growing popularity of K-Pop (one of its biggest concerts, Music Bank, was attended this Saturday by 30,000 people at the Miguel Rios Auditorium), gastronomy and Korean films. “It is inspiring,” he added, ”that many Spaniards also practice the Korean martial art Taekwondo. After welcoming the awarding of the 2024 Nobel Prize in Literature to Korean author Han Kang, the first Asian woman to win it, Soosuk Lim announced that the Instituto Cervantes will open its center in Seoul later this year and highlighted the growing number of Korean tourists visiting Spain annually: half a million, who “enjoy flamenco, paella, ham, wine and a whole range of aspects of cultural heritage, including the Camino de Santiago. “These strong cultural ties will bring our two countries closer than ever,” he concluded. The reception, attended by numerous ambassadors, was enlivened by tenor Jaesik Lim, who sang the Korean anthem a cappella; guitarist Hayoung Lee; and the Spanish K-Pop group, Red Flag. [caption id="attachment_97165" align="alignnone" width="750"]<img class="wp-image-97165 size-full" src="https://thediplomatinspain.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/Con-Cerezo-ok.jpg" alt="" width="750" height="429" /> Soosuk Lim and his wife receive the businessman and president of Atlético de Madrid, Enrique Cerezo.[/caption] [caption id="attachment_97167" align="alignnone" width="750"]<img class="wp-image-97167 size-full" src="https://thediplomatinspain.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/Con-Lituania-ok.jpg" alt="" width="750" height="429" /> Welcome to the Ambassador of Lithuania, Lyra Puisyte.[/caption] [caption id="attachment_97169" align="alignnone" width="750"]<img class="wp-image-97169 size-full" src="https://thediplomatinspain.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/Alemania-y-Bosnia-ok.jpg" alt="" width="750" height="422" /> On the left, German Ambassador Maria Margarete Gosse, along with her counterpart from Bosnia and Herzegovina, Vesna Andree-Zaimovic, and her husband.[/caption] [caption id="attachment_97171" align="alignnone" width="750"]<img class="wp-image-97171 size-full" src="https://thediplomatinspain.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/Iran-y-Uzbekistan-ok.jpg" alt="" width="750" height="422" /> Iran’s ambassador, Reza Zabib (left), and Uzbekistan’s ambassador, Farrukh Tursunov.[/caption] [caption id="attachment_97173" align="alignnone" width="750"]<img class="wp-image-97173 size-full" src="https://thediplomatinspain.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/Equipo-del-Centro-Cultural-Coreano-ok.jpg" alt="" width="750" height="422" /> The team of the Korean Cultural Center in Spain, with its director, Shin Jaekwang.[/caption] [caption id="attachment_97175" align="alignnone" width="750"]<img class="wp-image-97175 size-full" src="https://thediplomatinspain.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/Guitarrista-Hayoung-Lee-ok.jpg" alt="" width="750" height="428" /> The Korean guitarist, Hayoung Lee, gave a wonderful concert to the guests.[/caption] [caption id="attachment_97177" align="alignnone" width="750"]<img class="wp-image-97177 size-full" src="https://thediplomatinspain.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/Grupo-Kpop-Dance-Crew-Red-Flag-ok.jpg" alt="" width="750" height="429" /> The K-pop group that won the 2023 Annual Contest in Madrid, Red Flag, animated the evening with their rhythm and good humor.[/caption]
