By Diplomacy Journal Lee Kap-soo
On the occasion of the bicentenary of the declaration of independence of Uruguay, the Embassy of Uruguay in the Republic of Korea held a reception at Four Seasons Hotel Seoul on August 25.
Delivering a speech at the gala reception, Ambassador Pablo Scheiner of Uruguay to Korea said, “In 2025, the Oriental Republic of Uruguay commemorates the 200th anniversary of its independence—a moment of profound national pride and reflection. It is an occasion to honor the women and men who shaped our nation, and to reaffirm the values that have defined our country over two centuries: democracy, freedom, equality, social inclusion, and international solidarity.”
Noting that this historic milestone is made even more meaningful by its convergence with the 60th anniversary of diplomatic relations between Uruguay and the Republic of Korea, Amb. Scheiner said, “Six decades of friendship and mutual respect have laid the foundation for a strong, constructive, and forward-looking partnership.”
He stated, “Our two countries, though geographically distant, are united by shared principles—democracy, peace, sustainable development, and a firm commitment to multilateralism.”
Amb. Scheiner continued to say, “Over the years, Uruguay and Korea have steadily expanded their cooperation across multiple areas: trade, innovation, clean energy—especially green hydrogen—agri-tech, information technologies, and the creative industries. Uruguay offers a reliable and transparent environment for investment, supported by solid democratic institutions, a robust digital infrastructure, a highly educated workforce, and a long-standing orientation toward sustainability and innovation.”
He added, “We look forward to continuing to build with Korea a future-oriented partnership—one that reflects the aspirations of our peoples and the values we hold dear.”
In congratulatory remarks, Jung Ki-hong, deputy minister of public diplomacy of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, said, “Korea and Uruguay value freedom and independence and share a similar history of undertaking many challenges to defend democracy. It is very meaningful that two countries located on opposite sides of the globe are now recognized as model democracies in the world.”
Commenting that both countries have expanded our cooperation in future-oriented industries such as green hydrogen, biotechnology, and infrastructure in recent years, Deputy Minister Jung said, “In May last year, the Korea-Uruguay Research Institute was established to conduct joint research on biotechnology cooperation to respond to droughts. The two countries have begun developing soybean varieties at the institute.”
More than 200 distinguished guests from home and abroad, including foreign ambassadors to Korea, senior diplomats, high-ranking Korean government officials, business leaders, and their spouses attended the festive event.
