Juan David Latorre
On Tuesday, the Korean Embassy celebrated Korea’s National Foundation Day, which is 4355 years old and was named Gojoseon, on the ideological basis of “broadly benefiting mankind”, said Ambassador Bahk Sahnghoon.
“This noble ideology, Ambassador Bahk Sahnghoon said, has been passed down through the ages to the present-day Republic of Korea, and the efforts of Koreans to maintain this spirit continue despite painful historical episodes, such as several foreign invasions, a tragic civil war and the regrettable division of Korea.
“Koreans maintain a strong will to carry on this noble founding ideology; that is why”, the ambassador continued, “Korea applied to host the World Expo 2030 in Busan, Korea’s second largest city, as part of its efforts to contribute to the development of the international community. Through the World Expo, Korea wishes to contribute to the opening of the path to a better future for humanity.”
Bahk Sahnghoon indicated, as he explains also in the article published today in The Diplomat, that “the new Korean government felt that the solidarity of the international community was essential to deal effectively with the various global crises of today. That is why it presented its vision of ‘A Global Pivot State Promoting Freedom, Peace and Prosperity’, whereby Korea plays a significant role in the international community.”
Regarding Korea-Spain relations, the Korean ambassador noted that the two countries “elevated their relationship to strategic partnership in 2021. During the current post-Covid era, Korea is focusing its efforts on broadening and deepening its relationship with Spain so that the two countries can open a path of mutual prosperity for the future. At the governmental level, a new edition of the Bilateral Strategic Dialogue is being prepared, as well as meetings of the Joint Commissions on Economy and Science and Technology, among others. In addition, at the private level, various cooperation and reciprocal investment projects are being carried out to boost the green transition, as well as to promote digital transformation in our countries.”
Bahk Sahnghoon pointed out that “the resumption of the direct flight between Korea and Spain, interrupted by the covid 19 crisis, is very encouraging because it allows to reactivate personal exchanges between the two countries and to improve the mutual understanding of our peoples”.
The Korean ambassador ended his speech by highlighting that “the interest of Spaniards in the Korean Wave, such as K-pop, TV series and Korean films, is growing every day, and in the same way, the interest of Koreans in the Spanish language, Spanish LaLiga football, is increasing”.
Ambassador Bahk Sahnghoon gave way to two endearing video messages received as Korean National Day greetings from tennis player Rafa Nadal and taewondo fighter Adriana Cerezo.
The end of the celebration was enlivened by the Millennium Vocal Group, led by maestro Jae-Sik Lim, an ensemble of Spanish vocalists who sing Korean songs dressed in traditional Korean costume. The group has performed concerts in Korea this past summer, “with which they have contributed, in the words of the ambassador, to enhancing the already magnificent friendship between the two peoples”.
Among other personalities, the event was attended by the ambassadors of Switzerland, Australia, Turkey, Argentina, Lithuania and Slovenia, along with representatives of other legations such as those of Cuba and the United States. The director of the CNI, Esperanza Casteleiro, was also present, as well as a large group of diplomats from the Spanish Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
