Sunday Times 2
Korea celebrates national foundation day and Korea-Sri Lanka friendship
View(s):The Embassy of the Republic of Korea in Sri Lanka hosted a celebration to mark Korea’s 4358th National Foundation Day at Cinnamon Life, Colombo. This year’s celebration also commemorated the 48th anniversary of diplomatic relations between Korea and Sri Lanka, highlighting the deepening friendship and multifaceted cooperation between the two nations.
The occasion was graced by several guests, including cabinet ministers, ministry secretaries, ambassadors, Korean nationals, and representatives from diverse sectors of Lankan society, all of whom have contributed to the partnership between Korea and Sri Lanka.
Pix by Indika Handuwala
Ambassador Miyon Lee highlighted Korea’s journey from its ancient roots to its modern achievements, underscoring the nation’s commitment to democracy, global peace and prosperity. She reflected on the evolving bilateral relationship between Korea and Sri Lanka, particularly through Korea’s Official Development Assistance (ODA) programmes, and spotlighted key collaborations over the past year and outlined Korea’s new phase of soft power diplomacy with focus on “K-Initiative” aimed at promoting K-pop, K-dramas, K-movies, K-beauty, and even K-technology to reach beyond Korea and across the globe.
Special mention was made of KOICA (Korea International Cooperation Agency), the lead organisation implementing Korea’s ODA in Sri Lanka. The ambassador congratulated KOICA on its 30th anniversary in Sri Lanka, recognising its dedicated service across sectors.
Minister Savithri Paulraj thanked Korea for its generous support through Korea’s ODA. She acknowledged the contributions of Korean ODA to key sectors in Sri Lanka, which played a vital role in the country’s socio-economic progress.
She said over 30,000 Lankan migrant workers are employed in Korea under the Employment Permit System (EPS) and thanked the Republic of Korea for its commitment towards the well-being of the Lankan community.
The celebration showcased Korean traditional culture, wellness and culinary artistry. Themed around “K-initiative” and showcasing K-beauty products, the event featured exhibits of Korean cosmetics hosted by the Korea Trade-Investment Promotion Agency (KOTRA) — showcasing Korea’s global influence in skincare and wellness. An LG Electronics booth provided visitors a chance to experience the latest cutting-edge technology developed in Korea.
Guests also enjoyed a flavourful Korean culinary experience at the Korea Food Corner, which featured dishes such as Kimbap, Ojingeobokkeum, Japchae, Bulgogi, Korean braised chicken, pan-fried zucchini, chive pancakes, and classics like Kimchi and Tteokbokki, all prepared by master Korean chef Choi Jae-hyun who travelled from Korea for the event. The traditional Korean sweet rice drink, Sikhye, proved to be a crowd favourite.
The celebration was made more vibrant by the enthusiastic participation of the Korean community in Sri Lanka.