Seoul-Bogota 40th Anniversary Friendship Partnership Celebration... Strengthening Cooperation Between Cities

Embassy of the Republic of Korea in Colombia and Seoul City Jointly Host '60th Anniversary of Korea-Colombia Diplomatic Relations
40th Anniversary Celebration of Seoul-Bogota Sister City Partnership'

[Asia Economy Reporter Lim Cheol-young] A cultural exchange event will be held in Bogota, Colombia, on the opposite side of the globe, to celebrate the 60th anniversary of diplomatic relations between Korea and Colombia and the 40th anniversary of friendship between Seoul and Bogota.

According to Seoul City on the 3rd, this commemorative ceremony is an event jointly hosted by the Embassy of the Republic of Korea in Colombia and Seoul City in Colombia to mark the 60th anniversary of Korea-Colombia diplomatic relations and the 40th anniversary of the Seoul-Bogota friendship alliance. It will take place at 8 p.m. local time on the 4th. This event is part of the 2022 Korea-Colombia 60th anniversary commemorative projects and is a tripartite collaboration between the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Embassy of the Republic of Korea in Colombia, and Seoul City.

At the ceremony, the Seoul Metropolitan Traditional Orchestra, Korea’s first traditional Korean music orchestra, will showcase Korean folk songs, pansori, and samulnori to introduce the precious spirit and value of Korean traditional arts to Bogota. The performance will feature the ‘Arirang Fantasy,’ an orchestral arrangement of Arirang, Korea’s most widely known song, as well as pansori, samulnori, a K-pop medley, and beloved Colombian folk music, introducing the charm of Korean traditional music to the citizens of Bogota.

Kim Eui-seung, the First Deputy Mayor for Administration, will personally visit Bogota, Colombia, to attend the commemorative event, celebrate the 40th anniversary of the Seoul-Bogota friendship alliance, and strengthen the friendship between the two cities. The event will be attended by Chu Jong-yeon, Korean Ambassador to Colombia, Claudia Nayibe Lopez Hernandez, Mayor of Bogota, Colombian ministers and vice ministers, and Bogota city officials.

Meanwhile, Deputy Mayor Kim will not only attend the commemorative event but also continue efforts to enhance exchanges through discussions on cooperation plans between the two cities and benchmarking advanced policies during a meeting with the Mayor of Bogota. On the 4th, Deputy Mayor Kim will meet with Claudia Nayibe Lopez Hernandez, Mayor of Bogota, to discuss ways to strengthen cooperation in various fields such as culture, transportation, and climate.

Deputy Mayor Kim said, “Bogota, the capital of Colombia and the gateway to the American continent, is a key city that can connect Seoul to the Americas,” adding, “We celebrate the 40th anniversary of friendship with Bogota and hope this occasion will further deepen the friendship and develop mutual relations between the two cities.”