Korea - United Kingdom Communications

[Jay]

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To: Office of the Foreign Secretary of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland< Jamie > CC: ParkEnna@mofa.kr.gov

From: BaekJeonghee@mofa.kr.gov < Minister of Foreign Affairs, Republic of Korea >

Subject: Restoration of strategic partnership and friendship

Security: Private and encrypted | Protected by the NIS and MoFA DPB

To the Esteemed honorable Foreign Secretary,

His Excellency the President of the Republic of Korea, Kim Daejung passes is utmost of best wishes and salutations to both Her Majesty the Queen, and The Honorable Prime Minister. Korea and Britain's relationship extends for many years, dating back to 1948 and only strengthened by the tens of thousands of British soldiers and their commonwealth allies fought on the Korean Peninsula to protect against the invasion by the North. The sacrifices of the British Army are not forgotten by the Republic of Korea. While our relationship was only strengthened by the shared blood over the Korean War, they are sustained by the 58,000 Korean nationals living in the UK, and the thousands of ethnic Korean Britons who continue the ties of Anglo-Korean relations. These cultural and economic ties continue to transcend all the administrations that take hold in our nations and we hope that they will continue to propagate a strong and stable UK-Korea relationship on the basis of mutual respect, global security, and the betterment of our citizens.

The Republic of Korea is eager to re-establish a vigorous and friendly relationship with the United Kingdom. We wish to move towards the strategic partnership and cooperative relations our two nations had held in the past. We hope that continued strong and cooperative relations will allow us both to expand the ability of our citizens to thrive and live a dignified life. Being able to explore the globe and its many communities and cultures and engage in academic rigor, multicultural understanding, and engagement. My Office is eager to hear back on how we can develop that bilateral relationship and begin a platform of cooperation that continues to provide a level of prosperity and safety for the Eurasia continents. Ambassador Park Enna is most equipped to deal with the United Kingdoms with her background in the country as well as knowledgeable experience. I hope to also get into contact with the British Ambassador to Korea to discuss matters of state and relations. Prosperity and friendship across Asia remains a key pillar of our vision for Asia. We hope the United Kingdoms can assist Korea in achieving these goals and addressing the future challenges we face as partners.

The status of the 18,000 Korean students in the United Kingdom, building a strong educational connection, and supporting educational opportunities for Koreans in the United Kingdom is a major goal for our administration. We hope to engage on addressing visa status for unaccompanied minors, programs to engage at the primary and secondary level of education and at higher education institutions, develop of bilateral educational support for our students, and engagement on English language opportunities for Koreans.

Once again, his Excellency passes his utmost of regards and wishes upon Her Majesty the Queen and the Honorable Prime Minister, hoping to cooperate with one another in the development of a resurgent UK-Korea relationship.

Signed with sincerity,
The Minister of Foreign Affairs
Baek Jeonghee
Republic of Korea

 

[Jamie]

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Her Majesty's Government
Security Classification: TOP SECRET

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To:	Minister of Foreign Affairs, Baek Jeonghee Jay
Cc:
Bcc:
Subject:	Re: Restoration of strategic partnership and friendship

ParkEnna@mofa.kr.gov

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To the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Baek Jeonghee,

I would like to thank you for your email. The Secretary of Foreign Affairs, Mr Adams; is currently engaged in other appointments but rest assured, I have the authority to discuss bilateral affairs between the United Kingdom and South Korean Governments. Your comments and best wishes are most appreciated, we too echo the desire for a well constructed relationship that will build upon previous correspondence. Despite the current economic situation we are all impacted by, we see this as a great opportunity to discuss the prospect of business and joint ventures which would correlate to both of our wishes for cooperation. To reduce email clutter, I would like to propose that either we arrange for one of our Ambassadors to meet with the relevant delegation or perhaps; a phone call between ourselves. That is, if you have any preference that would serve as a channel for direct communications.

Kind Regards,
Taylor Heart
First Secretary of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland

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[Jay]

To: Office of the Foreign Secretary of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland< Jamie > CC: ParkEnna@mofa.kr.gov

From: BaekJeonghee@mofa.kr.gov < Minister of Foreign Affairs, Republic of Korea >

Subject: Restoration of strategic partnership and friendship

Security: Private and encrypted | Protected by the NIS and MoFA DPB

To the Esteemed Honorable First Secretary,


Thank you for your response. I share your sentiment that we can regardless of the crisis of the day, develop a health and progressing relationship between our countries. Ambassador-designate Park Enna is available to meet with you your mutual conveniences and has been cc'd regularly in these email chains. She is up to speed on our European policy and specific to UK-Korea relations. I believe an in-person meeting can be arranged, I look forward to the results of the meeting. I do not have any preference on how we have a direct line of communication, and if you prefer a phone call I believe one could be arranged in the coming days. However, a meeting between the Ambassador-designate and yourself would be much more quicker."

Signed with sincerity,
The Minister of Foreign Affairs
Baek Jeonghee
Republic of Korea

 

[Jay]

To: Office of the Foreign Secretary of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland< Jamie > < Dutchy > CC: Kimyoungkwon@mofa.kr.gov, ParkEunha@mofa.kr.gov

From: Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Republic of Korea

Subject: Appointment of Ambassador, Letter of Credentials

Security: Private and encrypted Protected by the NIS and MoFA DPB

To The Government of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, and to whom it may concern,

With the retirement of H.E. Ambassador Kim Youngkwon, the Republic of Korea in its capacity to appoint an Ambassador to the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland has appointed upon the formal acceptance of H.M. The Queen's Government, Enna Park to be the Ambassador of the Republic of Korea to the United Kingdom. H.E. Enna Park will be dispatched to London on January 13, and will upon the acceptance of her letter of credentials by Her Majesties Government take her post officially on January 14. In the time between December 14 and January 14, H.E. Charge D'affaires Kim Youngseob shall be invested the powers of the Ambassador in his temporary capacity. As outlined in the communications between H.E. Foreign Minister Baek Jeonghee and H.E. First Secretary Heart, H.E. Ambassador Park shall be available to meet with the First Secretary upon her recognition as Ambassador to the United Kingdom. Until this time, H.E. Charge D'affaires Kim shall be at the discretion of Her Majesties Government, be available to discuss matters of importance and state and has the full competency and backing of the Government of the Republic of Korea.


Signed,
Lee Baekjung
Chief of European Bureau for Policy & Planning for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs
Republic of Korea

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Republic of Korea
Ministry of Foreign Affairs
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