Opening of Korean Embassy in Cuba's Capital... Resolving a Long-Standing Issue of Over 20 Years

On the 17th (local time), the South Korean embassy opened in Havana, the capital of Cuba. This achievement came 11 months after the establishment of diplomatic relations between Korea and Cuba last year.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs announced, "Our government has officially opened the Embassy of the Republic of Korea in Havana, Cuba." The embassy opening ceremony took place at around 10:30 a.m. local time at the Korean Embassy located in the Miramar area of Havana. The event was attended by Lee Joo-il, Director General of the Latin America and Caribbean Bureau of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, representing the Korean government, as well as Cuban officials including Carlos Pereira, Director General of the Bilateral Department of the Cuban Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

(From left) Lee Ho-yeol, Charg? d'Affaires at the Embassy of Mexico; Lee Ju-il, Director of Latin America; Carlos Pereira, Director General of the Bilateral Department, Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Cuba; Ariel Lorenzo, Director of the Asia-Oceania Department, Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Cuba. Ministry of Foreign Affairs

Korea established diplomatic relations with Cuba, the only country in Latin America with which it had no diplomatic ties, on February 14 last year through the exchange of diplomatic notes between their UN missions in New York. Subsequently, in April last year, both countries agreed to establish resident missions in their respective capitals, and Korea set up a temporary office in Havana to begin full-scale preparations for the embassy opening.

Recently, the Cuban ambassador to Korea was appointed. The Korean mission is expected to open no later than the first quarter of this year.

The establishment of diplomatic relations between Korea and Cuba was a long-standing diplomatic goal spanning over 20 years. Although Cuba was considered a friendly country that provided emergency aid to Korea during the Korean War, relations grew distant after the 1959 Fidel Castro revolution, as Cuba was classified as a "brother country" sharing socialist and anti-American values with North Korea.

However, a turning point came in 1999 with the end of the Cold War, when Korea cast its first affirmative vote on a UN General Assembly resolution to lift sanctions against Cuba. The government officially proposed diplomatic talks with Cuba in 2000. During the Lee Myung-bak administration in 2008, Korea proposed establishing consular relations, and in 2016, Foreign Minister Yun Byung-se visited Cuba?the first Korean foreign minister to do so?and held talks during the Park Geun-hye administration.

Despite these efforts, diplomatic relations were difficult due to complex issues including Cuba’s ties with North Korea. In May 2023, then-Foreign Minister Park Jin met with Cuban Deputy Foreign Minister Josefina Vidal at the Caribbean Community (ACS) meeting held in Guatemala, and in September of the same year, the foreign ministers of both countries held a private meeting at the UN General Assembly in New York. Additionally, academic exchanges and other civil efforts contributed to progress.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs stated, "The opening of the Embassy of the Republic of Korea in Cuba is a follow-up measure to the establishment of diplomatic relations on February 14 last year," adding, "It is expected to expand exchanges and cooperation between the peoples of both countries and enhance consular services and protection for Korean nationals residing in or visiting Cuba, thereby increasing convenience and benefits."