The Finnish Embassy last week marked the 99th anniversary of national independence and thriving ties with Korea centered on innovation, education and tourism.
Speaking at a reception in Seoul on Dec. 6, Finnish Ambassador to Korea Eero Suominen said Finland’s image here was “extremely positive,” as Koreans have taken note of its world-class education and innovation as well as the Nordic lifestyle and welfare system.
“The relations between Finland and Korea are excellent,” the envoy said. He added that Finnish ministers of employment and industry, transport and communications and agriculture and forestry departments visited Korea this year.
Finnish Ambassador to Korea Eero Suominen (left) and Korea’s Deputy Foreign Minister for Economic Affairs Lee Tae-ho (Joel Lee/The Korea Herald)
Several delegations representing food, health care and lifestyle sectors came as well, reciprocated by Korean teachers who visit Finland around the year. The Nordic country of 5.5 million people has an innovative and creative education system much envied by the rest of the world, including the US, with iconoclastic filmmaker Michael Moore idolizing Finnish schools in his documentary earlier this year, “Where to Invade Next.”
Some Korean representatives also visited Slush, Europe’s leading entrepreneurship event held annually in Helsinki in late November, which aims to connect startups and tech talents with top international investors, executives and media.
“Both Finland and Korea live off their exports,” the envoy said. “Access to the global markets is important for us, and Finland is a strong supporter of free trade.”
On the back of the European Union-Korea free trade agreement that entered into force in 2011, two-way trade has benefited, he noted, acknowledging lower tariffs and industrial collaboration.
New sectors of cooperation are food, health care, design and fashion and renewable energy, according to the diplomat. The Finnish government released an energy road map in October 2014 that indicated plans to increase the share of renewable energy by 2050, particularly biomass and wind power.
Finnish National Day reception on Dec. 6. (Joel Lee / The Korea Herald)
Helsinki and Seoul established diplomatic relations in 1973.
Following former Finnish Prime Minister Alexander Stubb’s visit to Seoul in 2014, the Korea-Finland Joint Economic Commission and Bilateral Consultations on the Arctic were launched.
“Finland has become the nearest EU state from Korea, only nine hours away following Finnair’s inauguration of direct flight between Helsinki and Seoul in 2008,” said Korea’s Deputy Foreign Minister for Economic Affairs Lee Tae-ho.
Over 30,000 Koreans visited Finland last year, and 10,000 Finns came to Korea in the same period.
“Finland today is an indisputable leader in advanced technology and innovative economy,” Lee said. “Our lives have been enriched by Finnish innovations, including the commercialization of global standards for mobile communications, Linux computer operating system and popular mobile game ‘Angry Birds.’”
Alongside deepening political and economic relations, cultural exchange has also bloomed, he claimed, citing the first Korean Culture Week in Finland in October that featured K-pop, film and food.
Marking the centenary of national independence from the Russian Empire next year, the embassy will organize various concerts, seminars and exhibitions in Korea.
By Joel Lee (joel@heraldcorp.com)
