By Kim Sue-young
Staff Reporter
Two lawmakers from the governing Grand National Party (GNP) will attend the inauguration of Ecuadorian President Rafael Correa Monday as presidential envoys, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade said Thursday. Correa, who took office in November 2006, was re-elected in an April 26 election.
Reps. Chin Soo-hee and You Jung-hyun will deliver a message on the expansion of bilateral exchanges and cooperation, and hope for further developments, ministry spokesman Moon Tae-young said.
They are also scheduled to meet with Ecuadorian parliamentary leaders to discuss ways of boosting cooperation between the legislatures of the two countries.
Currently about 1,400 South Koreans reside in Ecuador, mostly engaged in trade.
Since Ecuador is rich in natural resources such as petroleum, local companies have been showing interests in cooperation projects with the Latin American country.
South Korea established diplomatic ties with Ecuador in October 1962.