Ireland, Korea mark historic, economic ties

By Korea Herald

Published : March 20, 2016 - 22:58

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The Irish Embassy last week celebrated St. Patrick’s Day and the centenary of the Easter 1916 Uprising that led to the country’s independence from Britain in 1922.

At a reception at Grand Hyatt Seoul on Tuesday, Irish Ambassador Aingeal O’Donoghue said the uprising was “a pivotal moment” in Irish history for national liberation.

“Hundred years ago, the world was a very different place. Ireland was still under British rule, Korea was under Japanese rule and Europe was ravaged by devastating war,” she said in a speech.

“Whether in Ireland or Korea, we can share the ideals of the Easter 1916 proclamation of the republic -- national self-determination, equality, free speech and the promise to cherish all children of the nations equally.”

In Ireland, she noted, the centenary is celebrated “in an inclusive way -- being respectful of the different traditions on the island and different narratives of Irish history so as to promote peace and reconciliation in Northern Ireland and close relationship that we have forged with Great Britain despite our turbulent history.”

Irish Ambassador Aingeal O’Donoghue. (Joel Lee / The Korea Herald)

Regarding relations with Korea, the envoy said the two nations have enhanced partnership through political consultations, trade and investment, mutual support in international organizations and university collaboration.

With the Irish economy continuing to grow rapidly -- 7.8 percent last year, the highest among the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development countries -- O’Donoghue highlighted that “further strengthening of relations” lies ahead.

Noting Ireland’s strengths in pharmaceuticals, life sciences, information communications technology and financial services, she added that businesses on both sides could harness their complementarities and opportunities through innovation and creativity.

Irish and Korean businesspeople met over the first St. Patrick’s Day Business Breakfast on Tuesday. Pat O’Riordan, Enterprise Ireland director for North Asia, said: “Bilateral trade relations between Ireland and Korea are growing strongly with both economies having vibrant and complementary export sectors.”

“Irish companies see Korea as a sophisticated market open to world class innovation, particularly in the life sciences and technology sector,” he said, adding that “South Korea is an excellent base from which to do business in the broader region increasingly recognized by Irish companies.”

Korean Minister of Patriots and Veterans Affairs Park Sung-choon (left) and Aingeal O’Donoghue. (Joel Lee / The Korea Herald)

On Thursday, Korean Minister of Patriots and Veterans Affairs Park Sung-choon and O’Donoghue laid a wreath at a monument to the Irish dead at the Korean War Memorial.

Under a joint collaboration between the embassy, the Irish Association of Korea and the Royal Ulster Rifles Association, the memorial was erected in April 2013 for those of Irish birth and heritage who died during the Korean War.

At the reception, Park acknowledged in a speech that Ireland sent over a thousand troops to the war, out of which 109 died. Despite Ireland not being a member of the United Nations Command at the time, Irishmen enlisted in the British, American, Canadian, Australian and New Zealand armies to fight in the war.

By Joel Lee (joel@heraldcorp.com)

Korea Herald
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Ireland, Korea mark historic, economic ties

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