By Diplomacy Journal Lee Kap-soo

European Union (EU) Ambassador to Korea Maria Castillo Fernandez has become an honorary citizen of the northernmost county of Goseong-gun.

As Goseong-gun is working to strengthen exchanges with Europe to foster global talent among its youth, Ambassador Castillo Fernandez visited the northernmost county of Goseong-gun on May 19 and received an honorary citizenship certificate from Ham Myung-joon, mayor of Goseong-gun, and delivered a special lecture to local high school students.

At Goseong-gun's invitation, the Ambassador delivered a lecture on ‘EU goes to school in Goseong’ to 120 high school students at the Goseong High School, providing them with an opportunity to enhance their understanding of the EU and diplomatic affairs, as well as their global perspective.

During the lecture, Ambassador Castillo Fernandez gave a first-hand account of the history and values of the EU and the work of diplomats in a country with a long history and tradition, followed by a Q&A session where students were able to interact freely with her.

This is Ambassador Castillo Fernandez's second visit to the northernmost county of Goseong-gun.

Since her appointment in 2020, she has been actively engaged in building networks between EU Member States and Goseong-gun at the initiative of Mayor Ham Myung-joon, and in 2021, he organized an international retreat for EU Member States in Goseong, which helped to promote Goseong-gun, the northernmost peace-centered city, to the international community.

During her visit, Ambassador Castillo Fernandez pledged to provide local youth with a variety of international experiences, and this lecture is being seen as the first program to fulfill that promise.

“This visit by the EU ambassador will help local students, who have fewer opportunities for international experiences than those in Seoul and other metropolitan areas, to broaden their global perspective and grow into global talents,” said Ham Myung-joon, mayor of Goseong-gun."