Ambassador of the Republic of Korea to the State of Qatar, H E Hyunsoo Yun
DOHA: This year marks the 50th anniversary of diplomatic ties between Korea and Qatar, a milestone celebrated through cultural events designed to deepen mutual understanding and strengthen bilateral relations.
The bond, which began in 1974, has significantly broadened the collaboration between the two countries across various realms including security, defence, information & communication technologies, and artificial intelligence, said the South Korean Envoy.
“The bilateral relationship between Korea and Qatar has never been better. Traditionally, the bilateral cooperation has focused on energy, construction and infrastructure”, said the Ambassador of the Republic of Korea to the State of Qatar, H E Hyunsoo Yun in an interview with The Peninsula.
The official said, “Diversification efforts of Qatar necessitate diversified partners that are highly trustworthy to ensure that the relationship becomes more impactful and sustainable.
While recent agreements during President Yoon Suk Yeol’s visit to Qatar—including MOUs in sectors like smart farms, and autonomous vehicles—are promising, maintaining momentum and translating these into tangible outcomes will be essential.”
The Ambassador also noted that Korea is actively pursuing initiatives to enhance Qatari investment in sectors where the industries indicate strong global competitiveness. “Cooperation between relevant organisations in both countries is ongoing, and we are focused on fostering greater investment cooperation,” Ambassador Yun said.
Meanwhile, Korea’s semiconductor industry, which is a global leader, offers attractive opportunities for Qatari investors, he said in addition to the growing demand for rechargeable batteries, driven by the global shift towards electric vehicles, which presents another area with significant potential.
The official explained that “Korea’s commitment to sustainable growth is reflected in our investments in emerging fields such as carbon capture, utilization, and storage (CCUS), small modular reactors (SMRs), and hydrogen energy. These sectors not only align with global efforts to combat climate change but also offer lucrative investment opportunities for Qatari entrepreneurs looking to diversify their portfolios.”
He also stressed that the Asian country provides a favourable environment for foreign investment, and the current initiatives are expected to draw significant interest from Qatar.
To foster stronger ties between the two communities, the envoy noted that cultural exchange and business collaboration are two prime areas. The cultural exchange initiatives include inviting Qatari experts to engage with the Korean community and hosting events to showcase respective traditions and lifestyles, which are vital for deepening mutual understanding.
“The 50th-anniversary cultural events offer a perfect platform for such exchanges, providing opportunities for both communities to connect and learn from each other,” he said.
“On the business front, economic partnerships grounded in mutual interests are essential for building lasting bonds between the communities,” H E Yun added.
Last year, the Korea-Qatar Business Forum witnessed multiple agreements that demonstrated the potential for collaborative ventures. The Ambassador also mentioned that the Embassy is keen to host or co-host more business-related events aimed at promoting trade and investment opportunities to revitalise economic ties and bring communities closer together.
To celebrate the five-decade ties of cultural exchange, the embassy of Korea in Qatar carries out several initiatives including the 50thAnniversary Korean Movie Night this month from October 17 to 19, the Korean Speech Contest and ‘Hanguk (Korea) from My Perspective’ on October 19, the Jeju Haenyeo Exhibition in November followed by Hanbok (traditional Korean clothing) Exhibition in the same month.
