Korean associations, consul generals meet Ambassador Chang Jae-bok to wish happy Lunar New Year 2022, share concerns virtually

ACN Correspondent On Feb 5, 2022

NEW DELHI: In a courteous virtual tour, the India-based Korean community association along with consulate generals met the Ambassador of the Republic of Korea, New Delhi online to greet him Happy Lunar New Year, the Heollal recently.

Led by Euy Don Park, president of the Federation of Korean Associations, they also shared the issues and concerns related to the Korean nationals staying and working in India with the ambassador Chang Jae-bok who assured them to redress these timely.

February 1 was the first day of the Korean lunar new year 2022, also known as the tiger year as per the Korean zodiac system. The year 2021 was the Ox year.

It was the Korean associations’ second formal meeting with the ambassador as earlier in September last year also their respective presidents had physically visited the embassy to meet him under the umbrella of the Federation of Korean Associations.

The New Year’s ceremony was attended by Ambassador Jang Jae-bok, Consul General Kim Young-ok in Mumbai, and Consul General Kwon Young-seop in Chennai at the Embassy. Andhra Pradesh), Chae Hong-ki (Pune), Chu Hyeon-seok (Pune), Cho Sang-hyeon (Chennai), Jeong Seong-guk (Kolkata), Dongrim Koo (Hyderabad), and Seo Yong-hyuk and Park Seung-soo, secretary of the Federation, were in attendance.

At this event, hosted by Lee Cheol-hee, Consul of the Embassy of the Republic of Korea, local Korean presidents shared the safety and current situation of Korean residents in the midst of the Corona pandemic still continuing and suggested the most necessary issues to the Korean society this year to the diplomatic mission. We talked about ways to get through the situation.

On this occasion, the presidents of these regional Korean associations shared issues related to the safety and current situation of Korean residents in the midst of the Corona pandemic and suggested ways to overcome them together while suggesting the most necessary issues for the Korean community this year.

The most necessary issue, which was suggested in anticipation of active review and practical progress by the embassy and government so that the travel bubble could be implemented and to receive more active cooperation from the Indian authorities in relation to the approval of the special flight, which is an inconvenience and pain related to the travel of Koreans on business trips.

In addition, they introduced and shared plans for the launch of the “Korean Young Commerce Association in India” for the successful settlement of young Koreans who have entered India, future activities, and plans for the support of the Korean People’s Association for young people.

In addition, the Korean American presidents shared the difficult situation regarding the operation of Korean language schools in each region and the situation that the Korean American Association had to support, and sought cooperation from the diplomatic mission.

Ambassador Jang Jae-bok of India is continuously working with the Koreans to overcome the Corona crisis, and based on the experience of the second wave of last year, he was relieved that he was going through without much difficulty until now.

He said that the next year 2023 will mark the 50th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between South Korea and India.

Also, regarding the pain and discomfort of Koreans returning to Korea and returning to India, Ambassador Jang Jae-bok, the ambassador to India, will resume working-level consultations related to the travel bubble soon.

“We will do our best to make it happen soon,” he said adding that this year, he would visit more regions and expand discussions on the development of the Korean community by making contact with Korean businesses.