Abu Dhabi: With a vision to expand areas of cooperation between the UAE and South Korea through sectors such as education and culture, a Korean Cultural Centre is set to be inaugurated in the capital by the end of this year, the country’s envoy told Gulf News.
Speaking on the sidelines of the South Korean National Day celebrations at the InterContinental Abu Dhabi on Monday, Kwon Hae-ryong, Ambassador of the Republic of Korea to the UAE, said that this agreement comes following the South Korean president’s visit to the UAE in March.
“An MoU was signed between the two countries during our president’s visit to the UAE in March on establishing a Korean Cultural Centre, which is now set to open in December.”
Driven towards transcending cultural boundaries, the centre, which will be located in Abu Dhabi’s media zone, TwoFour54, is set to unveil a number of courses to promote the Korean language, culture and cuisine, among others.
Furthermore, with the trade volume hitting $23 billion last year, the two countries’ relationship has reached its peak, Ambassador Kwon told Gulf News.
“Korea is mainly exporting vehicles, mobile phones and construction materials and is importing oil and petrol.”
As far as the number of Korean residents is concerned, around five years ago, there were roughly only 5,000 Koreans residing in the UAE.
“This number has now tripled, with approximately 14,000 Koreans living in the UAE. There are about 25,000 Koreans residing in the Middle East, which means that more than half live in the UAE.”
To mark the occasion of the Republic of Korea’s National Day, which falls on October 3, the Ambassador expressed his gratitude to the UAE and said: “The UAE is Korea’s only strategic partner in the Middle East. Our ties continue to rapidly mature and both countries continue to extend cooperation in new areas such as education, culture, health care and security.”
“This year also marks the 35th anniversary of establishment of diplomatic relationship between the UAE and Korea,” he said.
Dr Tareq Al Haidan, Assistant Foreign Minister for International Organisations Affairs, a number of ambassadors, Korean residents and other nationalities attended.
A Syrian professor, Dr Mohammad Sadiq, decided to celebrate as a way to express his profound respect and appreciation for a country that is so culturally rich, home to a great civilisation and one that continues to look after the well-being of its citizens.
Two Korean residents, Hoyeon Chung and Soowan Um, said that this day instils a sense of national pride in them as it marks their country’s foundation.
Maisoon Mubarak is a trainee at Gulf News.
