New Year messages from ambassadors

French Ambassador Philippe Bertoux / Courtesy of Embassy of France in Seoul

• Published Jan 7, 2024 10:58 AM KST
• Updated Jan 7, 2024 5:37 PM KST

French Ambassador Philippe Bertoux

On the occasion of the new year, I would like to send my warmest and most sincere wishes to the Korean people and the French community in Korea. In the troubled international context that we are experiencing, France and the Republic of Korea maintain a forward-looking strategic partnership based on a shared attachment to sovereignty, international law, multilateralism and universal values.

More than ever, our dialogue and cooperation continue to progress, and we expect high-level discussions on our bilateral relations this year in Seoul. France and Korea will share numerous events in 2024. The highlight will be this summer in France, with the Paris 2024 Olympic and Paralympic Games, and I invite everyone to come to Paris and share privileged moments in the City of Light. I also wish all the best to the young French athletes attending the 4th Winter Youth Olympic Games in Gangwon Province from Jan. 19, 2024.

Finally, I share with you one of my wishes for 2024: to see the number of French people in Korea surpass the record set in 2023, with over 100,000 entering the country. France loves Korea. Korea loves France. Let’s make the best out of it! I wish success, happiness and health to all for 2024!

Danish Ambassador Svend Olling

To all in Korea, Happy New Year! The winds of change are already upon us. Danes got off to a shocking start to the new year when our Queen announced she will soon abdicate the throne after 52 years of reign. Here on the peninsula, attention is turned to the general elections in April that will determine the direction of the great democracy of Korea for the next four years.

With the ongoing wars in Ukraine and Palestine, as well as unrest in many other parts of the world, I truly hope that this new year will be a better year for peace, security and prosperity for all.

To this end, Denmark is hoping that 2024 will be the year in which we are elected to serve on the U.N. Security Council for the period of 2025-26.

Equality, security, and action will be our guiding principles. If elected, Korea and Denmark will have overlapping terms on the U.N. Security Council. We are likeminded on most global issues and hope to cooperate close to secure international rule of law, solidarity and cooperation.

Israeli Ambassador Akiva Tor

Dear The Korea Times readers,

On behalf of the state of Israel, I would like to wish you and your families and the entire Republic of Korea a year of happiness, success and fulfillment in 2024.

Israel finds itself engaged in a difficult war at the start of this new year. More than one hundred hostages remain captive in Gaza taken by Hamas on their Oct. 7 attack, despite strong Israeli military gains against Hamas they are still not defeated and their leadership eludes capture.

Israel is still hurt and bruised from the great number of Israeli men, women and children brutally murdered, and the IDF being a true citizens’ army we feel the pain of every soldier killed and wounded.

But 2024 will be a better year. Israel will prevail, the Abraham Accords process will renew and peace will spread, and our diplomatic, economic and cultural relations with Korea will deepen!

Greek Ambassador Ekaterini Loupas

The Embassy of Greece welcomes the New Year 2024 with particular enthusiasm, after the especially productive past year for bilateral relations and looks forward to a rapid upgrading of economic, cultural and educational relations, as our two peoples have the potential to boost ties in continuation of the unshakable relationship that brought them together during the Korean War of 1950-53. Our common fate has consolidated our relations that come from afar and will go even further.

Despite the large geographical distance, our countries are united by many common characteristics that create important opportunities for rapprochement.

The sea and our shared experience in maritime cooperation have created a unique relationship that stands out on a global level, as Greece is the world's largest ship owning nation. Greece and the Republic of Korea continue to strengthen their bilateral bonds, seeking new opportunities beyond the shipping sector, in technology, green energy, culture and international cooperation, after last year’s meeting of Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis with President Yoon Suk Yeol on the sidelines of the U.N. General Assembly on Sept. 20.

Also, the Embassy of Greece is particularly proud about the fact that Greece’s economy has been ranked in top place by the Economist for its 2023 economic performance for the second year in a row. This performance was the outcome of an effort that included major reforms. Furthermore, Greece is the pillar of stability in Southern Europe and East Mediterranean in a world of increased turmoil and with its presence in international fora (eg. as a longstanding member of the EU and NATO) has a constructive and responsible role to play.

For this year, the Embassy of Greece wishes the Republic of Korea to keep up with the unique progress that the country has shown in the past and with the positive impact in the world and the Korean people to enjoy prosperity and peace. Last but not least, I sincerely wish The Korea Times to continue its fruitful contribution to enlightening foreign readers with quality news and inspiring analysis about everything that matters in this very important part of the world.

Indian Ambassdor Amit Kumar

As we bid farewell to the somewhat challenging year and welcome the promise of a fresh start, I extend my warmest New Year greetings to Korea Times readers.

The Korea Times has played a significant role as a bridge connecting foreigners with contemporary Korea along with its vibrant culture and rich heritage. Through its insightful reporting and diverse perspectives, it has fostered deeper understanding and friendship among the international community.

We recently celebrated the 50th Anniversary of India-Republic of Korea diplomatic ties. Over the years, our countries have forged a deep and wide-ranging Special Strategic Partnership encompassing political, security, trade, culture and people-to-people exchanges. This milestone anniversary serves as a testament to the enduring friendship between our two countries, and the immense potential for mutually beneficial collaboration in the years ahead.

May the New Year bring joy, good health, growth and prosperity to everyone for a brighter future.

Kazakh Ambassador Nurgali A. Arystanov

I would like to extend warmest congratulations to all the readers of The Korea Times on the New Year 2024 and express my sincere gratitude for your crucial support and assistance in strengthening multifaceted relations between the Republic of Kazakhstan and the Republic of Korea.

The past year has been very eventful and fruitful for the enhanced strategic partnership between the two countries. In 2023, regular meetings took place between the leaderships of the two countries, including between Presidents Kassym-Jomart Tokayev and Yoon Suk Yeol, Deputy Prime Minister-Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Kazakhstan Murat Nurtleu and Minister of Foreign Affairs of Korea Park Jin, and also between the Chairman of the Mazhilis of the Parliament of the Republic of Kazakhstan Erlan Koshanov and the Speaker of the National Assembly of Korea Kim Jin-pyo.

In addition, trade and economic cooperation has gained momentum, with the launch of new and continuation of existing projects in cooperation with companies such as KIA, Hyundai, Samsung Electronics, Doosan Enerbility, KNOC and Lotte.

People-to-people ties have been greatly facilitated. There were concerts of ethno-folklore ensembles and artists of Kazakhstan, fashion shows from leading designers of Kazakhstan, art exhibitions and screenings of Kazakh cinema.

I hope that the New Year 2024 will expand the horizons for the friendly and mutually beneficial relations between the two countries. I am convinced that the Kazakh-Korean friendship will flourish even further, with the support of major stakeholders, media, think tanks and citizens.

On this festive occasion, I wish you good health, personal happiness and prosperity in 2024. Happy New Year!

British Ambassador Colin Crooks

On behalf of the British Embassy in Seoul, I would like to wish a Happy New Year to the readers of The Korea Times. With U.K.-Korea relations the closest they have ever been, our focus for 2024 will be to use the momentum generated by President Yoon's successful State Visit to the U.K. and the signing of the Downing Street Accord to drive even closer collaboration between the U.K. and Korea across a wide range of areas.

I'm particularly looking forward to the British Embassy's first-ever "Green Week" in March, which will bring together British and Korean climate, energy and sustainability experts, and the start of negotiations to upgrade our Free Trade Agreement.

I'd also like to see closer people-to-people ties — in that regard, we're off to a great start with this year's expansion of the Youth Mobility Scheme, which will allow up to 5,000 young Korean people to go for a two-year "working holiday" in the U.K.

Cambodian Ambassador Chring Botum Rangsay

The start of the New Year 2024 is a time for reflection, gratitude and renewed hope. In the face of the challenges we have encountered, and as Ambassador of Cambodia, I have witnessed the unwavering friendship and support that the two countries shared.

Together, let us continue to foster collaboration and bring a new year of prosperity, joy and an abundance of opportunities for growth and success.

Wishing you and your loved ones a Happy and Healthy New Year!