Erbil, Kurdistan Region, Iraq – (KRG.org) – The South Korean Ambassador to Iraq, Mr. Heyon Meyong Kim, arrived in the Kurdistan Region to pay farewell visits to KRG Prime Minister Nechirvan Barzani and a number of senior KRG officials as his tenure in Iraq comes to an end. In addition to his meetings he also attended the American University of Iraq – Sulaimani Forum and the ceremony at Erbil Airport where the remains of 93 Barzanis who died during the Anfal campaign were returned to Kurdistan.

Prime Minister Barzani welcomed the Ambassador and expressed his appreciation on behalf of the government and people of Kurdistan towards the Republic of Korea for its assistance to the region throughout the past decade. The Zaytun Division, a contingent from the Korean Army, was deployed to Kurdistan from September 2004 until December 2008, contributing to reconstruction projects for the people of the Region. Prime Minister Barzani also pointed to the actions of the Korean International Cooperation Agency (KOICA) in Kurdistan. Both Korean entities played a crucial role in establishing a strong foundation for mutual relations which continue to progress. The Prime Minister said, "We want to benefit from the successful experience of Korea, particularly in the fields of science and technology, education and human capacity development."

For his part, the Korean Ambassador praised the role of the KRG and political leadership in maintaining stability and security, a key factor in Kurdistan’s progress and prosperity. The Ambassador pointed out that during his two-year tenure as Ambassador to Iraq he has had the opportunity to learn about the history of the Kurdish people and the tragedies that they have experienced. Prior to his departure the Korean Ambassador attended a ceremony where the remains of 93 Barzanis who lost their lives during the Anfal campaign were returned to Kurdistan to be reburied in Barzan. The Ambassador stated how moved he had been at seeing the victims of the former regime’s genocidal crimes firsthand.

Later during the same day, the Korean Ambassador met with Minister Falah Mustafa at the Department of Foreign Relations along with the Assistant Head of the Department, Ms Siham Jabali. The two parties discussed the many similarities that the people of Kurdistan and Korea share. In discussing the tragic past, Minister Mustafa said, “We have come a long way but we are still facing many challenges and we can learn lessons from your experience and your history.” He went on to say that “the character of Kurdistan is based upon a culture of hope and optimism."

South Korea and Kurdistan have established robust channels for collaboration through cultural and educational exchange programs and the continuity of capacity building programs managed by KOICA in Kurdistan. Ambassador Meyong Kim informed Minister Mustafa of future programs initiated by the Korean Institute for Development Strategy (KDS), a Korean think-tank and consultancy specializing in international economic development, who plan to work with the KRG Ministry of Planning. 

Ambassador Kim will be returning to Seoul to resume work at the Korean Foreign Ministry in order to prepare for his next posting as the Consul General in Los Angeles in the near future.