At a Glance

• PUK President received South Korean Ambassador Lee Jun-il and Consul General Eoon-Gyo Shim in Slemani.
• Talabani congratulated the diplomats on assuming their new duties.
• Both sides committed to expanding bilateral relations,

The Patriotic Union of Kurdistan (PUK) President Bafel Jalal Talabani reaffirmed support for South Korea’s diplomatic envoys to Iraq and the Kurdistan Region on the occasion of assuming their new duties.

Key Statements and Focus Area

• The PUK President’s Press Office stated that Bafel Jalal Talabani received Lee Jun-il, the South Korean Ambassador to Iraq, and Eoon-Gyo Shim, the country's Consul to the Kurdistan Region, in Dabashan on Tuesday.
• Talabani highlighted the PUK's support for the success of their work.

According to an official statement from Talabani's press office, the PUK president extended his congratulations to the diplomats on their appointments and wished them success in their roles.

The two sides also emphasized enhancing cooperation and expanding relations, particularly in diplomatic, economic, and cultural fields."

FYI

The relationship between South Korea and the Kurdistan Region began in 2004 with the deployment of the South Korean Zaytun Division, which focused entirely on post-war reconstruction and humanitarian aid.

This military contingent built dozens of schools, medical clinics, and public infrastructure across the region, earning immense goodwill from the Kurdish people. 

The partnership has evolved beyond traditional aid through the Korea International Cooperation Agency (KOICA), which maintains an active office in Erbil, by funding large-scale infrastructure projects and public sector training programs. 

Culturally, the two nations share a deep mutual respect rooted in their histories of overcoming conflict, which has fueled a massive surge in the popularity of Korean culture among Kurdish youth. 

This enduring bond is now transitioning into advanced economic, diplomatic, and technological cooperation, as highlighted by recent high-level diplomatic meetings.

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