Swiss ambassador to detail bilateral relations at RAS Korea lecture

Swiss Ambassador Dagmar Schmidt Tartagli poses at the Swiss Hanok in western Seoul, May 22. Courtesy of Bereket Alemayehu

Swiss Ambassador to Korea Dagmar Schmidt Tartagli will give a lecture for Royal Asiatic Society (RAS) Korea detailing the rich and dynamic history of bilateral relations.

"Through a series of compelling stories, we will explore the evolution of these ties, beginning with the first attempts to establish a Swiss Consul to Joseon and the role Switzerland played in the Korean freedom movement," the ambassador said in an online invitation. "We’ll then delve into Switzerland’s key position in the Neutral Nations Supervisory Commission (NNSC) and highlight the thriving Swiss business network maintained through the Swiss-Korean Business Council. As we celebrated the 60-year anniversary of bilateral relations in 2023, we will also focus on the ongoing cooperation in cutting-edge research and innovation, particularly in the quantum technology field."

Switzerland and South Korea established diplomatic relations in 1963 and cooperate closely in various areas. The European country was also one of two countries, along with Sweden, that the U.N. selected to form the four-member NNSC, alongside Czechoslovakia and Poland which North Korea and China had chosen. Switzerland continues to be involved in the NNSC, which last convened in Warsaw, Poland, in June 2023 with representatives from the three remaining countries.

The lecture starts at 7:30 p.m. on Tuesday in the fifth-floor lounge of the FastFive building in Da-dong near Seoul City Hall. Entry costs 10,000 won or 5,000 won for students and is free for RAS Korea members. Visit raskb.com for more information.