The SKC chairman has been appointed to offer official assistance to Brazilians in Incheon and the surrounding areas.

Choi Shin-won was inaugurated as honorary consul of the Federative Republic of Brazil at the ambassador’s residence in Seoul on Monday.

Choi’s appointment was announced by a Korean Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade official at the home of the Brazilian ambassador to Korea Edmundo Fujita. 

As honorary consul, he will be responsible for helping Brazilians in trouble in the Incheon City area as well as in Gyeonggi and Gangwon provinces.

Fujita said that Choi will be able to help any Brazilian freighters running into difficulties at Incheon port or any of the Latin American country’s citizens in need of help at Incheon International Airport.

The ambassador said that the northeastern city’s vibrant economic activity had increased the Brazilian population and activity in the area in recent years.

There are about 1,200 Brazilians in Korea in various occupations, and the ambassador said the number was likely to grow as relations between the two countries flourished.

He said the newly appointed Choi would help expand and compliment the embassy’s work through his new consular role as well as through the Brazil Korea Society (KOBRAS).

Choi, who is the founder and president of KOBRAS, first saw the potential in Brazil’s abundant resources while visiting in the 1990s with Sunkyung Corporation (now SK Networks). Now he is working to promote cultural exchanges between the two countries. He also aims to help Korean companies, especially small and medium enterprises, enter the Brazilian market. The society even aims to introduce K-pop to Brazil.

As well as thanking the ambassador for his appointment, Choi predicted a prosperous period ahead for Brazil, with its hosting of the World Cup in 2014 and the Olympics in 2016.

By Kirsty Taylor (kirstyt@heraldcorp.com)