By Diplomacy Journal Lee Kap-soo

(New Year Message)
Dear readers of the Diplomacy Journal,

It is with pleasure that I convey, in my name and on behalf of the Moroccan Embassy team and also in my capacity as Dean of the Diplomatic Corps and Dean of the African Group of Ambassadors., my sincere greetings to the people and the Government of the Republic of Korea.

I seize this opportunity to extend my heartfelt wishes for success to Diplomacy Journal, to Chairman Lee as well as to its Managing Editors.

On New Year’s Eve, it is an occasion to review what has been achieved over the leaving year and envision what to expect in the upcoming one.

Korea has accomplished many projects in various fields, diplomacy, economy, science, technology, tourism and health and many others. I wish this new year and onwards, Korea will maintain this progress momentum.  

On international scope, many actions ad projects have been undertaken. I will recall some significant ones. In June 2024, the Republic of Korea organized the first-ever Korea-Africa Summit, a landmark event which served as a major milestone in the Korea-Africa Partnership, gathering many African leaders, including a high-level Moroccan delegation headed by the Speaker of the National Assembly of the Kingdom of Morocco along with the Minister of Foreign Affairs. 

Bilaterally, on the occasion of the Summit, several agreements have been signed between Morocco and Korea, laying the foundation for solid cooperation in the fields of investment, climate change and social security.
Equally important was the visit to Seoul in November of a high-level Moroccan delegation headed by the Minister of Investment for a prospecting investment mission, celebrating the second anniversary of the launch of the Morocco Now brand.  

True, diplomatic bilateral relations were established 62 years ago, but the human ties started earlier in the 1950s, when Morocco-originated soldiers first set foot on this land as a part of the UN Battalion sent to aid the Republic of Korea during the war. From that time, our two people shared a bond as blood brothers. In his opening speech at the Korea-Africa Summit, the President acknowledged that Moroccans were among the soldiers who sacrificed their lives to defend the sovereignty of the Republic of Korea. 

As we embrace the year 2025, we eagerly anticipate another year of close bilateral and multilateral cooperation.

May the Kingdom of Morocco and the Republic of Korea continue to stride forward, experiencing even greater progress, stability, security, and peace in this New Year.