Foreign Minister Madam Marjon Kamara has praised the outgoing ambassador of the Republic of Korea to Liberia, His Excellency Mr.  Noh Kyu-duk, for maintaining and further strengthening the excellent relations subsisting between the two countries.

“In my own estimation, you have done very well, despite the fact you are not resident here; but you have kept the relationship between our two countries very much alive,” she noted, adding, “Relationship is indeed longstanding.”

According to a Foreign Ministry release, Foreign Minister Kamara made the assertion when Mr. Kyu-duk paid a courtesy visit to officially take leave of her after a little over two-year stint as the Republic of Korea’s Ambassador to Liberia.

Ambassador Kyu-duk began his assignment as his country’s ambassador to Liberia when he presented his Letters of Credence to President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf on June 25, 2015.

Foreign Minister Kamara praised Ambassador Kyu-duk for the efforts he made in galvanizing enormous support to Liberia, especially during the Ebola crisis and continued even during the post-Ebola era.

“There’s a lot that you can be proud of Ambassador [Kyu-duk]. You’ve made your mark and government is continuity. In terms of our relationship, you have done enough, played your part, made your contribution to ensure that it’s anchored on a very sure, safe foundation that your successor will just take it forward. We thank you for that,” she re-echoed.

However, Minister Kamara mentioned one unresolved issue which did not materialize during Ambassador Kyu-duk’s tenure – the re-establishment of Korea’s presence in Monrovia, likewise, establishing Liberia’s presence in Seoul.

She noted that it remains an objective of the Liberian Government as there are lots of things both countries can do especially in the areas of trade and investment if Liberia had a presence in the Republic of Korea.

Foreign Minister Kamara used the occasion to request outgoing Ambassador Kyu-duk to convey her personal sentiments and congratulations to the new Korean foreign minister, Her Excellency Madam Kang Kyung Wha.

Before her preferment, HE Kang Kyung Wha (62) served as Deputy High Commissioner for Human Rights and Assistant Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs before becoming a senior policy advisor to the UN Secretary-General Antonion Guterres earlier this year.

Speaking earlier, the outgoing Korean Ambassador expressed his deep gratitude to Minister Kamara for the hospitality, friendship and cooperation extended him during his tour of duty in Liberia. “I will cherish the memory of the almost 1,000 days being Korean Ambassador to Liberia.

Reflecting on his tenure, Ambassador Kyu-duk said the idea of serving as an ambassador to a host country is not only to promote shuttle relationship, but to also lay the groundwork for continuous development of bilateral relations with the host government.

He said during his tenure here as his country’s ambassador, he persuaded his government to provide more development aid to Liberia. “During my tenure, we did part of that,” he said.

Ambassador Kyu-duk highlighted his engagements in public diplomacy especially with the University of Liberia when he, on two occasions, gave special lectures to the faculty and students about the situation in the Korean peninsula and the story of economic development in the Republic of Korea.

He indicated that during his many travels to Liberia, he made many good friends and though he’s completing his tenure as Korea’s Ambassador to Liberia, he takes back fond memories and will continue to pay an interest in the bilateral relationship between the two countries.

Outgoing Ambassador Kyu-duk is expected to return to Seoul shortly and most likely to be appointed Deputy Minister for Public Relations and Spokesperson at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Republic of Korea