Qatar and the Republic of Korea have reaffirmed their 52-year partnership, with Seoul expressing solidarity with Doha and highlighting cooperation in energy, infrastructure, culture and efforts to promote lasting regional peace.
Speaking at the Republic of Korea’s National Day reception in Doha on Monday, ambassador Jeepio Hong emphasised the importance of the two countries standing by each other during difficult times, while highlighting decades of co-operation spanning trade, investment, education and cultural exchange.
“It's a time for showcasing Korea, what Korea has to offer,” he told Gulf Times. “Our theme has always been about Qatar and Korea, about the friendship that we have.”
He said that Korean companies and citizens continue to play a key role in partnering with Qataris, adding that the embassy wanted to strengthen cultural understanding and share the Republic of Korea’s achievements with Qatar.
“Our desire is to spread the Korean culture, spread the friendship, and spread all the wonderful things that Korea has to offer for Qatar,” Hong said.
In his address, the envoy highlighted Korean workers' contribution to the Gulf’s development during the 1970s, when companies from the Republic of Korea began seeking opportunities in the region.
Their work helped transform infrastructure across the Gulf, while remittances supported the country’s own economic development.
“Part of modern Korea was built here, in these sands,” he said, describing the relationship as one in which both countries had benefited from each other’s ambitions and resources.
Energy co-operation remains a cornerstone of the partnership.
Qatar’s liquefied natural gas (LNG) has helped meet the Republic of Korea’s energy needs, while Korean shipbuilders have constructed some of the giant LNG carriers used to transport the fuel internationally.
Hong also highlighted co-operation in emerging sectors, including artificial intelligence (AI) and defence, alongside established links in healthcare, education and business.
Cultural and sporting ties have further strengthened relations.
Recalling the 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar, the envoy referred to the Republic of Korea’s dramatic qualification for the knockout stage and the joint performance by BTS singer Jungkook and Qatari singer Fahad al-Kubaisi at the tournament’s opening ceremony.
The reception also celebrated Korean culture through a demonstration by a team from Kukkiwon, the world headquarters of taekwondo.
The envoy welcomed Grand Master Shin Jae-geun, a pioneer of the martial art in Qatar who trained members of the country’s armed forces and coached its national team.
Addressing regional tensions, Hong expressed support for Qatar’s mediation efforts and its pursuit of lasting peace and safe passage through regional waters.
“The Republic of Korea stands in solidarity with Qatar,” he said, stressing that friendship must extend beyond ceremonial occasions.
Hong stressed that the relationship was grounded in a shared belief that a nation’s greatest wealth lies in its people, and that international partnerships are strongest when countries support one another through both prosperity and adversity.
