Welcoming Remarks
by H.E. Yun Byung-se
Minister of Foreign Affairs

11th Annual Iftar Dinner
July 9, 2014

Ambassador Dato Haji Harun Ismail,
Ambassador Mohammed Chraibi,
The Imam Lee Juhwa,

To all distinguished guests at this Iftar dinner,
to the 130 thousand Muslims in Korea, and
to the 1.6 billion Muslims around the world,
Ramadan Kareem!

What began back in 2004 as a small gathering of 20 members of the Islamic diplomatic corps in Seoul, the Iftar dinner hosted by the Korean Foreign Minister has become a decade-long tradition.

Tonight, as we begin the first of the next ten years of Iftar dinners, I am happy to welcome the largest number of guests ever. Tonight, we are joined by over 100 guests representing 29 Islamic diplomatic corps and over 40 organizations related to the Muslim community in Korea.

Ramadan is a time for Muslims to reflect and devote themselves to God by recommitting themselves to practicing their faith’s tenets of charity and good deeds. Yet, sadly enough, even in this holy month, many of our Muslim neighbors in Syria, Libya, Yemen and Iraq continue to endure seemingly endless sufferings.

So at this meaningful occasion of Iftar, let us pray together for the end of sufferings and for the joy of a lasting peace in the Middle East and the world.

Ladies and Gentlemen,

Despite the geographical distance, Korea and the Islamic world share a tie that dates back to 12 hundred years.
 The 9th century Persian poem of Kushnameh, which tells a story of the romance between a Persian man and a Shilla princess;
 A grand mosque built in Gaegyeong, the capital city of Goryeo in the 11th century;
 The 15th century Muslim leader who recited verses from the Qur'an before King Sejong, praying for the King’s long life and the prosperity of the nation.

In modern times, we have forged a much closer tie. We will always remember those Turkish veterans who demonstrated their valor and gallantry against the enemy on the battle field, and showed their compassion and charity to orphans and the destitute during the Korean War.

In this past May, President Park Geun-hye visited the United Arab Emirates, reflecting the growing partnership between Korea and the Middle East in political, economic, cultural, and social aspects.

The Foreign Ministry has exerted our utmost efforts to support these efforts and to bridge the gap between Korea and the Islamic world as well. Last September, we established our first regular dialogues channel with both the Gulf Cooperation Council and the League of Arab Nations. In December, we embarked on a project for the reconstruction of the Ciliwung river running through Istiqlal Mosque in Jakarta, the largest mosque in Southeast Asia.

Before the year’s end, I plan to travel to the Middle East to attend the Korea-Middle East Cooperation Forum to be held in Jordan, to ensure the success of the Forum. Furthermore, the Ministry is working to arrange a dialogue with other Islam-related organizations to foster closer ties.

Last but not least, the 130 thousand Muslims who currently live in Korea are contributing to making Korea more diverse and multicultural.

Ladies and Gentlemen,

Last year, I laid out my vision to strengthen the relationship between Korea and the Middle East, a vision that I characterized as “a comprehensive partnership towards a New Horizon.”

In line with this vision, I would like to take this opportunity to emphasize the importance of revitalizing relations between Korea and the Muslim world. In this regard, the Ministry hopes to initiate a group aimed at deepening the Korean people’s understanding of the Middle East and Islam in the near future. I hope that all of you will be key members of this group and ask for your support and participation in this meaningful initiative.

Taking this opportunity, let me introduce several individuals present tonight who have been instrumental in bringing our two worlds closer together.

We have Professors Kim Jong-wee and Rew Joung-yole, who have dedicated their lives to the advancement of Islamic studies in Korea; and Professors Choi Young-kil and Lee Hee-soo, who have contributed greatly to the strengthening of Korea-Islamic relations.

I should also mention former CEO of Arirang TV Ms. Sohn Jie-ae, who has dedicated herself to the success of the Korea-Middle East Cooperation Forum; Executive Managing Director of MBC, Ms. Lee Jin-sook, well known for her career as a war correspondent during the Iraq War in 2003; those in charge of KBS World Arabic broadcasting programs; celebrity chef Edward Kwon, who worked as Hotel Head Chef at the Burj al-Arab Hotel in Dubai; and the many other widely respected cultural and athletic figures who are with us tonight, including Seol Ki-hyun.

Also celebrating Iftar with us tonight, we have members of the university-wide study group on the Middle East El-Naafidha and Korean diplomat candidates who have a keen interest in the Middle East and Islam-related issues, over there. Together, these groups are encouraging Koreans to approach Islamic culture with an open mind, making great contributions to the strength of Korean society.

Let me also introduce the three Saudi Arabian trainee doctors; the Turkish-Korean Jang Hussein and Julfikar Ali Khan from Pakistan, all of whom have worked hard to foster a proper understanding of Islam among Koreans. The family of Park Min-woo, who works at the Korean Embassy of Iraq and was born to an Iraqi father and a Korean mother, is also with us tonight. So is Muslim student Sarah Abu Shamalla, who prefers to be called by her Korean name.

During the month of Ramadan, Iftar is a precious tradition that gives us strength and courage to start the next day anew. I hope that tonight’s dinner may be of some help for you on your journey to Eid Al-Fitr as you continue your prayers, charity, and good deeds.

I wish you a peaceful Ramadan. Ramadan Mubarak!