The 2023 KF Korean Language and Culture Program for Diplomats
Welcoming Ceremony Opening Remarks

By Amb. KIM Gheewhan, President of the Korea Foundation
March 8, 2023 / Lilac & Tulip Hall at The Westin Josun Seoul

Good morning, ladies and gentlemen. I am Gheewhan Kim, President of the Korea Foundation.

It is a real pleasure to welcome fellow diplomats, who came from 25 countries to attend the KF Diplomat Fellowship Program this year.

I also want to say my sincere greetings to the honourable ambassadors from Tajikistan, Myanmar, Bangladesh, Serbia, Malaysia, Costa Rica, and members of Diplomatic Corps in Korea.

I want to say thank you to Deputy Director-General 강수연, Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Professor 김중섭, Dean of the Institute of International Education and members of his team at Kyung Hee University.

The program this year spans the beautiful season of the spring from March to early June in Korea. The MOFA, the Korea National Diplomatic Academy and the Institute of International Education at Kyung Hee University together offers networking opportunities and expert lectures for the participants. I want to thank them for their support in making this program successful.

Also, Korea Foundation has made best efforts to prepare a broad range of activities for the next twelve weeks, including K-pop dancing and taekwondo, in addition to the Korean language course. You will also visit places related to Korean tradition and history to understand more of contemporary Korean culture and society.

I hope you gain good memories and insights throughout this program and develop great feelings and good friendship with Korea.

As such, I am proud to say that twenty-one former KF Diplomat Fellows now serve in the diplomatic missions to Korea, including H.E. Nemanja Grbic (네마냐 그르비치), Ambassador of the Republic of Serbia, who has agreed to share his experiences with you in a short while.

In closing, I thank you all for joining and attending the 2023 KF Diplomat Fellowship Program and hope you enjoy the afternoon.

Thank you.