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Egypt celebrates National Day in Seoul

Egyptian Ambassador to Korea Hany Selim hosted a reception at the Egyptian Embassy in Seoul on July 23 to mark the country’s National Day.

Hundreds of people, including foreign and local envoys and business leaders, attended the two-hour event.

“This year, Egypt will celebrate its 63rd National Day with a special event,” the ambassador said during the reception. “On August 6, Egypt will inaugurate the New Suez Canal. After only a year of excavation, the New Suez Canal, along with the preceding canal, will increase the average number of vessels passing through from 49 per day to 97.”

The Egyptian Revolution of 1952, also known as the July 23 Revolution, was led by a group of young army officers who called themselves the “Free Officers Movement.” The revolution led to the overthrow of King Farouq and the establishment of an independent republic. Muhammed Naguibwas first president.

With regard to terrorist attacks, the ambassador expressed a strong will to rid Egypt of militants of ISIS-affiliated group Sinai Province.

“Egypt faces difficulties presented by an immense terrorist campaign, which threatens not only the land of the Nile but also the rest of the world,” he said.

“Despite the struggle, the state has declared that not a single drop of bloodshed in the name of terrorism goes unavenged. The Egyptian army will keep taking action until terrorism is no more.”

Egypt has been shaken by militants’ attacks since the military dismissed Islamist president Mohamed Morsi in July 2013.

Those attacks have mostly targeted security forces and been concentrated in the Sinai peninsula, the Nile delta and greater Cairo.