By Honorary Reporters Cheryl Hagen, Mira Dahl Aspeli and Sidrah Shaheen from Norway

Photos = Sidrah Shaheen, Wikipedia

Ambassador to Norway Kim Pil-woo poses for a photo with Honorary Reporters (from left) Cheryl Hagen, Mira Dahl Aspeli and Sidrah Shaheen from the Scandinavian country. (Sidrah Shaheen)

Ambassador to Norway Kim Pil-woo gave us an interview at the Korean Embassy in Oslo on his first impressions of Norway, bilateral relations and diplomatic strategy during the COVID-19 pandemic.

He said his image of Norway before taking his post in June was that of a rich country in Northern Europe full of stunning nature and people who value peacekeeping, gender equality and human dignity. On if his impression of the country had changed after arriving here. he said, "It has only convinced me that the image was not misleading after two months of living in Norway."

He reported for duty in Oslo as ambassador extraordinaire and plenipotentiary. Despite arriving amid the pandemic, he said, "Korea and Norway will do well in facing this challenge and do what they can through the close cooperation they have shown so far."

This beautiful building built in 1867 has housed the Korean Embassy in Norway since 1991.

The ambassador described the development of bilateral relations as based on "blood, sweat and tears." The Norwegian Mobile Army Surgical Hospital (NORMASH) dispatched from 1950-51 tended to  thousands of Koreans. To mark Norway's contributions to the Korean War, the Korean Ministry of Patriots and Veterans Affairs this year named NORMASH "Korean War Hero of the Month" for July.

The diplomat added that relations between the two countries are in excellent shape, having been continuously developed over six decades. "Efforts have never stopped to make bilateral ties in good shape. The relationship saw its culmination in the years 2018-19," he said.

In 2018 Norwegian Crown Prince Haakon Magnus and Prime Minister Erna Solberg attended the PyeongChang Winter Olympics in Korea, and the year after, President Moon Jae-in made a state visit to Norway to commemorate 60 years of diplomatic ties. 

"I'm going to bring the level of the bilateral relationship to a much higher point during my tenure,” the ambassador said. "We are going to reactivate bilateral talks on political and economic affairs while enhancing substantial cooperation in maritime transportation, shipbuilding, fisheries, Arctic issues, ICT (information and communications technology), climate change, health and education." 

He also emphasized exchanges between the youth of both countries and his desire to show tangible outcomes such as a working holiday agreement.

On what he considers important diplomatic causes, the ambassador quoted former United Nations Secretary-General Kofi Annan: "The human family will not enjoy development without security, will not enjoy security without development, and will not enjoy either without respect for human rights."

Ambassador Kim said the three causes are closely linked. "As we are living in a globalized world, the national security of a country is intertwined with that of others, and naturally, it lies on a multilateral table. But it also has much to do with bilateral diplomacy one way or another." 

"Diplomacy is not a zero-sum game but rather a positive-sum and mutually beneficial work." 

Many believe that the interests of countries often conflict with one another, yet he said, "We have common ground so that we can mutually benefit from working together toward common goals."

Before leaving the embassy, we requested that the embassy offer more opportunities to enjoy Korean culture in Oslo amid the pandemic. The ambassador expressed his regret that an in-person cultural event was unlikely this year, but added that the embassy plans on holding "Online Korean Culture Week" and other virtual programs.

enny0611@korea.kr

*This article is written by a Korea.net Honorary Reporter. Our group of Honorary Reporters are from all around the world, and they share with Korea.net their love and passion for all things Korean.