Modern Necktie Originated from Croatia
By Yoon Won-sup
Staff Reporter
Croatian Foreign Minister Kolinda Grabar-Kitarovic, who visited South Korea last week, announced that her government has appointed Yang In-mo, the senior executive adviser to Samsung Group, as the Croatian honorary consul general to Seoul.
Yang, 67, served as a member of the restructuring committee of Samsung; is a chairman of the Korea Plant Engineering Association, the chairman of the Hankuk University of Foreign Studies Alumni Association; and the vice chairman of the Korean-German Association.
``I'd like to promote bilateral relations between Korea and Croatia through various activities,'' Yang told The Korea Times. ``As this year marks the 15th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between the two countries, we will see an event in November in Seoul.''
Yang said that he had opportunities to learn about Croatia while working as chief of the Samsung office in Germany and that there are many things in Croatia that could be attractive to Koreans.
``Some 12 million people visit Croatia for tourism purposes, and 80 percent of them are Europeans, which means Croatia is well known for its tourist attractions in Europe,'' he said. ``I am sure that Koreans will also like it once they visit the country.''
Furthermore, Croatia used to have the No. 5 shipbuilding industry in the world, and Croatian shipbuilding experts still work as advisers to Korean companies in Geoje, South Gyeongsang Province, he said.
``Croatians are also very creative and love the arts,'' he said. ``For example, the tie was created in Croatia.''
Yang thought a free trade agreement between Korea and the European Union (EU), once it goes into effect, will boost Korea's trade with Croatia because it is expected to join the EU in late 2008.
Croatia is also scheduled to enter the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) next year.