Looking Forward to a New Era of Cooperation
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Commemorating 40 years of Korea-Kuwait Friendship Looking Forward to a New Era of Cooperation n the occasion of the Na- being, both effective and mutually vision of His Highness the Amir tion was the achieve- and it will be followed by other tional Foundation Day of benefi cial in many areas. Korea is “New Kuwait 2035”. The recent ments of this Prime events such as Art Exhibitions by Othe Republic of Korea, I the fi rst largest importer of Kuwait’s successful inauguration of Sheikh Ministers’ meeting. Traditional Korean Visual Artist would like to extend my best wish- crude oil, while Kuwait is Korea’s Jaber Causeway, which is consid- I am convinced from Nov 11 to 16, Taekwondo es for the continued peace, progress second largest oil supplier. Kuwait ered as one of the longest bridges that the signifi cant Demonstration Team Performance and prosperity of the State of Ku- is also the third largest construction in the world and a strategic link outcomes from the on Nov 14, and Modern and Tradi- wait and its people. market for Korea. The 1970s wit- between Kuwait City and the Silk new fi elds of col- tional Korean Musical Performanc- I also would like to take this op- nessed the effective contributions of City, a future fi nancial and com- laboration would be es on Dec 2 and 3. portunity to pray for good health visible in the near All of us know that His Highness and every success of His Highness future and assure the Amir has played a leading role the Amir Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmad that the Embassy in humanitarian work in the Middle Al-Jaber Al-Sabah, His Highness Ambassador’s Message of the Republic of East, Africa, and Asia. The Repub- the Crown Prince Sheikh Nawaf Korea to the State of lic of Korea has been a strong pur- Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah and Kuwait would play suer of peace and universal values His Highness the Prime Minister Korean construction and engineer- mercial center, marks the gateway a continued role in as well. To further peace and stabil- Sheikh Jaber Al-Mubarak Al-Ham- ing corporations in Kuwait’s main to achieve “New Kuwait Vision fostering further ity in the Korean Peninsula, Presi- ad Al-Sabah. national development projects. The 2035”. The historical inauguration progress in this re- dent Moon and the Korean govern- This year is of great signifi cance roads, bridges and residential areas ceremony of one of the world’s gard and eventually ment now aim to establish “The for the peoples of the Republic of that have been constructed by Ko- longest bridges was honorably at- bringing closer peo- Peace Economy” in which prosper- Korea and the State of Kuwait as rean corporations are testimony of tended by His Highness the Amir ples of the two coun- ity is achieved through peace. The both countries commemorate the the diligence, effi ciency and strong along with the Korean Prime Min- tries. For example, Peace Economy begins with the 40th anniversary of the establish- potential of those corporations. This ister Lee Nak-yeon. to promote coopera- efforts to continue dialogue and co- ment of diplomatic relations be- partnership also helped Korea suc- The visit of the Korean Prime tion in the fi eld of operation, so that North Korea can tween them. Over the past 40 years, cessfully overcome economic diffi - Minister was a symbolic occasion culture and arts, the choose economic prosperity over bilateral relations and cooperation culties in the aftermath of oil crises manifesting that both countries are Embassy has been nuclear program upon the founda- between the two countries have been in 1970s and 1980s and become an moving towards a new era of coop- organizing diversi- tion of complete denuclearization developing by leaps and bounds in economic powerhouse renowned as eration. During the offi cial talks be- Dr Hong Youngki fi ed cultural events of the Korean Peninsula. a whole range of realms, spanning the world’s sixth largest manufac- tween Prime Minter Lee Nak-yeon Ambassador of the Republic of Korea all through this year It is my honor to contribute to the the political, economic, social and turer and exporter. and His Highness, Sheikh Jaber Al- will enable Korea to play a more with a great number strengthening of such good cooper- cultural fi elds. I could say that the To this day, our relations have Mubarak, Prime Minister of Kuwait, active role in realizing the Vision of Kuwaiti participants and audi- ation between our two governments 40th anniversary of this relationship taken great leaps with the partici- both sides discussed ways to enhance ence. From late October, fi nalizing of HH the Amir. Inking of MOUs and peoples. I humbly hope Korean is an unequivocal demonstration of pation of Korean corporations in cooperation in the various fi elds, in- the 40th Anniversary Celebration, people’s talents and toils through our remarkable ability as partners to many infrastructure projects in cluding health, transportation, ener- and agreements to promote coopera- an offi cial Korean Culture delega- collaboration projects will make a work for the greater good. Kuwait, including “Mubarak Al- gy and smart city, and the establish- tion in the fi elds of culture and arts, tion (K-pop Boy Band, World Mu- contribution towards a better future The four-decade long bilateral re- Kabeer Port” and “the New Refi n- ment of Korean-Kuwaiti Committee investment, health, customs, diplo- sic Group, and Korean Traditional of the State of Kuwait. lations have been characterized by ery Project”, which conform to the for “Kuwait Vision 2035” which matic institutions and anti-corrup- Music Troupe) will visit Kuwait Thank you. Heritage of Korea – Home for biosphere reserves eople fi rst settled on the Korean Peninsula Chungcheong-do thousands of years ago, and thus it brims Pwith both tangible and intangible legacies The communal ea ing of Hansan mosi that have stood the test of time. These legacies are both pathways to understanding the people of the (fi ne hite ramie of the Hansan region) past and keys to unlocking the future. A society’s People used to make clothes out of ramie to en- heritage is its cultural and artistic DNA. Koreans dure the heat of the summer. Ramie is a traditional have an intrinsic aesthetic sense and a sense of summer fabric that demonstrates Koreans’ unique space that shows harmony with and adaptation sense of aesthetics. Ramie is as white and clear as to nature. Such aesthetics can best be understood white jade and is spun with very fi ne threads as de- through the Korean heritage items inscribed on scribed in the old saying “one pil (31cm in width and the UNESCO list. As of June 2019, 49 such items 21.6m in length) of mosi can fi t into a rice bowl.” have been inscribed on the UNESCO list. These The fi nest-quality ramie is called semosi made in the include 13 on the World Heritage List, 20 on the Hansan region. Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Her- itage of Humanity, and 16 on the Memory of the Jeolla-do World Register. On top of these, Korea is home to W orld famous location of dolmens several biosphere reserves. The Korean Peninsula is home to about 40 percent of the ancient, giant rock tombs known to exist in the Seoul world today. Many of these megalithic constructions Changdeokgung Palace, one of Koreas are concentrated in Jeolla-do, with the Gochang, Hwasun, and Ganghwa dolmen sites having been most iconic legacies kno n for its at pi- inscribed as UNESCO World Heritage Sites. These cal aesthetics giant stone sites have great research value as their diverse forms and shapes have been well preserved. Built in the 5th year of King Taejong’s reign They are important cultural assets that inspire our (1405), the third king of the Joseon Dynasty, imagination and curiosity about the prehistoric Changdeokgung Palace served as a secondary pal- world. ace while Gyeongbokgung Palace was used as the main palace. It was the country’s main political Gyeongsang-do center for the 258 years, from 1610 when Gwang- haegun chose to use it as the main palace to 1868 Bulguksa Temple and Seokguram when King Gojong restored and moved into Gyeo- ngbokgung Palace. Built in perfect harmony with its Grotto embody ing Sillas religious alues natural surrounding landscape, it effectively delivers Above: Gyeonghoeru Pavilion quietly shows off its subtle charm in perfect harmony with nature. Below: Gwanghwa- and artistic spirit the characteristics of traditional architecture unique mun Gate is one of the most beautifully built palace gates. Completed in 774 during the Unifi ed Silla era to the Joseon Dynasty. (668-935), Bulguksa Temple and Seokguram Grotto were the fi rst Korean cultural assets listed as UN- Gyeonggi-do ESCO World Heritage Sites. Bulguksa is a beautiful Buddhist temple that displays the craftsmanship and Namhansanseong Fortress, the only metier of ancient masons. Seokguram is an artifi cial preplanned fortress cit in the nation s stone grotto exquisitely constructed from 360 stone slabs, highlighting how Silla artisans excelled in ar- history chitecture, mathematics, geometry, and the arts. Namhansanseong Fortress served as a temporary capital of the Joseon Dynasty, equipped with a com- Jeju-do prehensive military defense system inspired by other countries in the Far East. It is a signifi cant heritage Jeju Volcanic Island and La a Tubes item that represents how Korea embraced religious Jeju Island was formed 1.8 million years ago from and philosophical diversity while preserving its volcanic activity.