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| Yongsan District chief Sung Jang-hyun, left, and Ambassador of Azerbaijan to Korea Ramzi Teymurov pose for a photo ahead of a tree-planting ceremony commemorating the 30th anniversary of diplomatic ties between Korea and Azerbaijan at Singye History Park in Yongsan, Seoul, Thursday. Courtesy of Yongsan District |
By Kwon Mee-yoo
On the 30th anniversary of diplomatic relations between Azerbaijan and Korea, the Embassy of Azerbaijan planted a tree with Yongsan District Office at Singye History Park in Yongsan, Seoul, Thursday.
Yongsan District is home to many diplomatic missions in Korea and established sister relations with the Azerbaijani district of Garadagh in 2017.
Ahead of the tree-planting ceremony, Yongsan District chief Sung Jang-hyun gave a tour of the park, which contains the Danggogae Catholic Martyrs' Shrine commemorating 10 Catholics martyred on the site during the Gihae Persecution in 1839.
Sung introduced the history of the site and how it was turned into a park when the area underwent redevelopment, as an example of valuing history.
Ambassador of Azerbaijan to Korea Ramzi Teymurov thanked the district chief for the meaningful event.
"Azerbaijan and Korea have been sharing 30 years of friendship. Within this 30 years, we had many meaningful exchanges between our two countries... Throughout these years we have the chance to exchange communications. Overall our bilateral relations, especially with Yongsan District under the leadership of the district chief, was very productive," Teymurov said.
"Today we are symbolizing this friendship. It can be a small token but it has a very good memory. I'm sure that after 30 years if we will have a chance to come back here, we will be very proud to present this to Azerbaijan-Korea bilateral relationship."
Sung, who has served as Yongsan District chief for four terms, recalled his visit to Azerbaijan as part of Yongsan and Garadagh's sister district relations.
"There are over 100 embassies and diplomatic residences in Yongsan District, but this is the first time for me to plant a tree of friendship with a diplomatic mission in Korea. I wish our tree-planting has a positive influence in Korea and Azerbaijan," Sung said.
"Ambassador Teymurov bridged us with Garadagh, which led me to visit Azerbaijan and a delegation from Garadagh visit Yongsan as well. I hope the two districts would continue to build friendship further."
They planted a pine tree to represent the friendship of 30 years between the two countries.
"Typically, a pine tree has one trunk, but this one has multiple trunks, presenting the sister relations," Sung explained.
