By Faten Omar

KUWAIT: The Korean Embassy in Kuwait marked, on Wednesday, the 45th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic ties between the Republic of Korea and Kuwait. During his remarks, Chong-Suk Park, Ambassador of the Republic of Korea to Kuwait, said “Today we mark a significant milestone in the relationship with Kuwait, celebrating 45 years of diplomatic ties and 60 years of energy cooperation.”

Korean ambassador highlighted the importance of economic relations between the two countries, saying “Korea is importing around 100 million barrels of oil annually. Recently, Kuwait Petroleum Corporation signed an MoU with Korea National Oil Corporation for the Project of Crude Oil Storage in Korea.” He pointed out that Korean construction companies started expanding into Kuwait’s market, noting that after signing the first contract in 1975, Korean companies took part in the construction of the 1st and 6th Ring Road, Highway 30, Port of Shuaiba, Clean Fuel Projects, Al-Zour refinery project, power plants, and then the Jaber Causeway, the landmark in Kuwait that opened in 2019.

“Recently, we also have been working together in various areas such as airport operation, medical treatment, construction of new cities, and smart farming. A few weeks ago, Kuwait, in cooperation with Korea, inaugurated its first-ever fiber optic cable factory. This is expected to contribute to strengthening Kuwait’s internet infrastructure,” he revealed. The ambassador indicated that his country is keen to step forward together to attain Kuwait’s Vision 2035, through continuous partnership.

Regarding the people-to-people and cultural exchanges, the ambassador stated that more than 2,000 Kuwaitis visited Korea in the first half of this year, adding “It is indeed a significant increase compared to the average annual visit of 3,500 Kuwaitis before COVID-19.” He added “We established the King Sejong Institute, which is a language learning center, through collaboration with Kuwait University in October 2023. Through the center, around 200 people have learned and are learning the Korean language and culture.” “Also, more than 10 Korean students come to Kuwait every year under the Kuwait government scholarship programs. They not only learn Arabic but also interact with Kuwait University students, developing mutual stepping-stone for future cooperation,” he concluded.