Korea celebrates National Foundation Day and Armed Forces Day
. . . highlights 36 years of solidarity and a lasting partnership
- Ambassador Kim highlights enduring friendship, historic Korean support during Kuwait’s liberation and growing bilateral cooperation
- From Kuwait’s liberation to a shared future, Korea celebrates a friendship that has stood the test of time
- When friendship mattered most, Korea honours historic bond with Kuwait at national reception
The Republic of Korea celebrated its National Foundation Day and Armed Forces Day with a distinguished reception hosted by Ambassador H.E. Jang Hyun Kim and his wife, bringing together senior Kuwaiti officials, diplomats, military representatives and prominent public figures to mark the country’s national occasions and celebrate the enduring friendship between the two nations.
The reception was attended by Minister of State for Municipal Affairs and Minister of State for Housing Affairs Abdul Latif Al-Mashari, Undersecretary of the Ministry of Defense Sheikh Dr. Abdullah Meshaal Al-Mubarak Al-Sabah, and Head of the National Military Service Authority Brigadier General Naif Al-Azmi, in addition to a number of sheikhs, heads of diplomatic missions, representatives of international organizations and distinguished guests.
The celebration provided an opportunity to reaffirm the strong historical bonds between Kuwait and South Korea, with Ambassador Kim highlighting the mutual trust, solidarity and shared experiences that have shaped relations between the two friendly countries over the decades.
In his address, Ambassador Kim described the Kuwaiti-Korean relationship as a genuine friendship that has stood firm through difficult times, stressing that the two countries have repeatedly demonstrated their commitment to supporting one another in the face of common challenges.
He recalled South Korea’s support for Kuwait during the brutal Iraqi invasion in 1990, saying his country contributed to the international efforts to liberate Kuwait by dispatching a military medical support unit and a military air transport unit comprising five C-130 aircraft. Korea also provided financial contributions to support the international coalition’s liberation efforts.
“The Kuwaiti people”, Ambassador Kim said, “still cherish the memory of this stance and appreciate the Korean support during that historical period, which reflects the depth of the ties between the two friendly peoples”.
He noted that the longstanding friendship had faced another important test during the this year, further demonstrating the resilience of bilateral relations. In this regard, he highlighted the telephone conversation between the foreign ministers of the two countries last March and the visit of Kuwait’s Foreign Minister Sheikh Jarrah Jaber Al-Ahmad Al-Sabah to Seoul last August. The visit was the first by a Kuwaiti foreign minister to South Korea in 19 years.
The ambassador said the visit featured extensive discussions, reflecting both countries’ determination to strengthen consultations, coordination and cooperation on issues of mutual interest.
Emphasizing that the relationship extends well beyond diplomatic engagements, Ambassador Kim pointed to the arrival of Korean engineers in Kuwait during the recent security crisis to help repair damaged oil refineries despite the challenging circumstances. He described such practical contributions as a reflection of the friendship and solidarity that underpin the partnership.
Turning to economic ties, he recalled the significant role played by Korean companies in Kuwait’s infrastructure development since the 1970s. He particularly highlighted the contribution of Incheon International Airport Company in maintaining the continuity of operations at Terminal 4 during the recent unrest, while expressing the company’s interest in participating in the operation of the new Terminal 2.
Ambassador Kim also reiterated South Korea’s commitment to broadening cooperation with Kuwait across several strategic sectors, particularly defense, healthcare and infrastructure, while encouraging greater cultural engagement and people-to-people exchanges to bring the two societies closer.
On an optimistic note, the ambassador said the Kuwaiti-Korean friendship emerges stronger after every challenge, expressing hope that the region would enjoy lasting stability and that relations between the two countries would continue to expand and flourish.
The celebration underscored not only South Korea’s national pride and appreciation of its armed forces but also the enduring value of a friendship forged through history, strengthened by solidarity and increasingly defined by forward-looking cooperation.
