By Diplomacy Journal Lee Kap-soo

The Embassy of the Republic of Belarus in the Republic of Korea hosted an annual Diplomatic Reception to celebrate the Independence Day of the Republic of Belarus at the Pullman Hotel in Seoul on July 1, 2025.

The event brought together over 130 guests, including heads and representatives of more than 35 foreign diplomatic missions, distinguished figures from Korea’s cultural, academic, and sports communities, as well as members of the Belarusian diaspora.

In his welcoming remarks, Ambassador of Belarus Andrew Chernetsky highlighted the historical significance of the Independence Day in the context of the 80th anniversary of the Victory in the Great Patriotic War.

The Head of the Belarusian diplomatic mission stressed that despite the difficult situation in the field of world politics and security, Belarus and the Republic of Korea continue to strengthen bilateral cooperation in the fields of culture, education and economics, as in recent months, bilateral visits of business representatives, projects in the field of medical technologies, and the agro-industry have been implemented.

The Ambassador of Belarus noted the contribution of public diplomacy and cultural initiatives to strengthening mutual understanding between peoples: examples of such cooperation were joint events with the South Korean side both in the Republic of Korea and in the Republic of Belarus.

At the end of his speech, the Head of the Belarusian diplomatic mission expressed the hope that the perception of the Republic of Belarus in the Republic of Korea would be formed based on the personal experience of those who visited the country, and not on biased opinions from the outside.

The guests' attention was attracted by the congratulatory speech of the Head of the UN Association of the Republic of Korea, Dr. Kwak Young Hoon, who visited Belarus this year as part of the international observer mission at the election of the President of the Republic of Belarus.

In his speech, he shared his personal impressions of Belarusian culture, hospitality and historical heritage, emphasizing the potential for expanding humanitarian dialogue between the countries.

A special place in the program of the solemn event was occupied by a musical performance by South Korean opera singer Lee Yeon Seong, who will soon visit Belarus, where he will take part in the “Slavic Bazaar 2025” International Art Festival and represent the Republic of Korea for the first time. Lee Yong Song's performance on the stage of the Reception of the Belarusian Embassy has become a symbol of cultural dialogue and mutual respect.

The solemn event was complemented by a demonstration of videos with Belarusian landscapes, as well as a photo exhibition of the country's nature and architecture.