No Result
View All Result
Wednesday, August 20, 2025
23 °c
Tripoli
24 ° Sat
24 ° Sun
  • Advertising
  • Contact
LibyaHerald
  • Home
  • Libya
  • Business
  • Opinion
  • Magazine
  • Advertising
  • Login
  • Register
SUBSCRIBE
  • Home
  • Libya
  • Business
  • Opinion
  • Magazine
  • Advertising
  • Login
  • Register
No Result
View All Result
LibyaHerald
No Result
View All Result
Home Libya

The Friends: Libya and Republic of Korea

bySami Zaptia
July 18, 2012
Reading Time: 3 mins read
A A

Tripoli, 18 July:

By Daeshik Jo, Ambassador of the Republic of Korea to Libya.

In the early 1980s, I had just finished my . . .[restrict]military service and was preparing for an exam to enter the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Around that time, I happened to see a movie and was enchanted by its eloquent title. It was “Lion of the Desert”, which depicted the life and struggle of an old teacher of the Koran who resisted the invasion of Italy.

I was very much impressed by the film. However, at that time, I did not pay much attention to the fact that the film was based on the life of Omar Mukhtar and the important role he played as a hero in the Libyan national liberation movement.

Since then, thirty years have passed and I was then appointed as the Korean ambassador to Libya. Remembering my first encounter with the country through the medium of cinema, I was excited to genuinely engage with the people, those like Omar Mukhtar, that had demonstrated such a passionate energy for freedom from oppression.

RELATED POSTS

PM urges acceleration of work on Tripoli’s pivotal urban projects

Op-Ed: Libya’s Missing Link – Why Data is the Key to Reform While Preventing a Public Backlash

I was attending a Korean Ambassadors’ meeting in Seoul on February 17th last year when I was informed of the outbreak of the Revolution. At that point I immediately came back to Libya. Since then, I have witnessed the courage and determination on the part of the Libyan people which was instrumental in the final success of the civilian revolution. Needless to say given the weight of the overwhelming obstacles that were faced, I was moved, at a personal level, far beyond my early ‘Lion of the Desert’ movie experience.

As the ambassador of the Republic of Korea to Libya, I have contemplated what ways Korea could best contribute to the reconstruction and development of the new Libya. Given that Libyan people have passed through hard times of civilian revolution, it was clear that as a friendly country we should not sit back and only watch. From the standpoint of a friend, I tried to find some ways to help the Libyan people because, I thought, a friend in need is the friend indeed.

After consultation with Seoul, we have determined that it would be best and most practical for Korea to assist the Libyan people in the areas where Korean expertise and strength most coincide with the Libyan needs.  In this context, the following seven projects were selected:

1-Identification of the remains of missing persons,

2-A knowledge sharing program (KSP),

3-Human resource development,

4-Water resource management,

5-Administrative capacity building,

6-Infrastructure establishment, and

7-Agricultural development.

The Korean government has allocated an initial $7 million for identification of missing persons during the revolution. At the moment, the Korean team for identification is remaining in Libya, supporting Libyan efforts.

Though it was unfortunately gained as a result of a period of sadness in our own history, the Korean government is passing on its know-how, regarding the  collection of the remains of the victims to the Libyan people who are suffering a very similar kind of sorrow. We acknowledge that though these efforts cannot wipe away the stains of fallen tears, they can, to an extent, help ease the pain of those losses.

The knowledge-sharing program (KSP) is looking to put forward references for economic development strategy that are based on the Korean experience. We hope this may provide useful policy guidance to Libya which has steered its economy to one which is based on free market principles. Meanwhile, the IT Training Center project looks to pass on know-how gained from the development of Korea’s world class IT infrastructure to help establish and grow that of Libya. In this regard we look forward to helping promote and develop new possibilities for the country.

I am convinced that the Libyan people will achieve social stability and democracy in the near future as they have succeeded in democratic revolution and have overcome very difficult adversities. The election on the General National Congress which was successfully held on 7th July could be a good sign as the Libyan people eloquently demonstrated their will and commitment to putting democratic principles into practice.

Though I am soon leaving Libya, I will remain as a friend of the country. Along these lines, I sincerely hope for the best regarding the reconstruction and stability of Libya along with the promotion of the mutual friendship and cooperation between our two countries. Finally, from the bottom of my heart, I wish the Libyan people the utmost prosperity and happiness.

Daeshik Jo, Ambassador of the Republic of Korea to Libya.

See Ambassador Daeshik Jo’s opinion piece of 5 July: http://www.libyaherald.com/why-am-i-optimistic-about-libyas-future/

See Ambassador Daeshik Jo’s opinion piece of 1 July: http://www.libyaherald.com/why-not-libya-witnesses-of-history/

  [/restrict]

Tags: administrationagricultureBusinesscapacity buildingdevelopmenteconomyHRDinfrastructureknowledgeKoreaKorea-Libya relationsLibyamissingRepublic of Koreawater

Related Posts

Attorney General orders arrests at Jumhouria bank branch for embezzlement
Libya

Seven expats arrested in possession of 15,000 litres of fuel intended for illegal sale

August 20, 2025
Aldabaiba announces four-track plan for holding elections and approving the constitution, leading to parliamentary elections next June
Libya

Tripoli based Libyan PM Aldabaiba completely rejects normalization with Israel – the Palestinian cause is an integral part of the Libyan conscience

August 20, 2025
Nearly 11,000 migrants repatriated from Libya and 3,165 Mediterranean fatalities: IOM
Libya

Libya Climate Change, Food Security, and Migration Report: IOM

August 19, 2025
‘‘Enhancing skills related to the green and blue economy to enhance employment opportunities’’ workshop held in Tripoli
Libya

Tripoli’s Planning Ministry to hold ”Libya Vision 2050” workshop

August 19, 2025
Attorney General orders arrests at Jumhouria bank branch for embezzlement
Libya

86,000 litres of fuel seized in raids on fuel smuggling depots

August 18, 2025
UNSMIL: Warring parties invited to begin negotiations on 29 September
Libya

UNSMIL announces results of online survey to be used as a guide to proposing initiative to break Libya’s political deadlock

August 18, 2025
Next Post
How Hadi Naser, the .ly registrar, defied language, war and the odds to create a global empire:

How Hadi Naser, the .ly registrar, defied language, war and the odds to create a global empire:

Eradication failures threaten a plague of locusts

Eradication failures threaten a plague of locusts

ADVERTISEMENT

Top Stories

  • Adopting Libya’s National Strategy for the Communications and Informatics Sector 2023-2027

    General Authority for Communications and Informatics suspends activities of China’s Huawei in Libya for violating national and international laws

    0 shares
    Share 0 Tweet 0
  • New CBL Tripoli HQ construction project inaugurated – 11 years after it was announced

    0 shares
    Share 0 Tweet 0
  • Lufthansa to act as consultant for proposed new Libyan state airliner

    0 shares
    Share 0 Tweet 0
  • New Libyan artificial intelligence system ‘‘LIBIGPT’’ to be launched soon

    0 shares
    Share 0 Tweet 0
  • Of the 67 strategic projects and initiatives, 8 are completed and 29 to start by end of 2025

    0 shares
    Share 0 Tweet 0
ADVERTISEMENT
LibyaHerald

The Libya Herald first appeared on 17 February 2012 – the first anniversary of the Libyan Revolution. Since then, it has become a favourite go-to source on news about Libya, for many in Libya and around the world, regularly attracting millions of hits.

Recent News

On its opening day, ”Innovation Summer Season” discusses urban planning

Seven expats arrested in possession of 15,000 litres of fuel intended for illegal sale

Sitemap

  • Why subscribe?
  • Terms & Conditions
  • FAQs
  • Copyright & Intellectual Property Rights
  • Subscribe now

Newsletters

    Be the first to know latest important news & events directly to your inbox.

    Sending ...

    By signing up, I agree to our TOS and Privacy Policy.

    © 2022 LibyaHerald - Powered by Sparx Solutions.

    Welcome Back!

    Login to your account below

    Forgotten Password? Sign Up

    Create New Account!

    Fill the forms below to register

    *By registering into our website, you agree to the Terms & Conditions and Privacy Policy.
    All fields are required. Log In

    Retrieve your password

    Please enter your username or email address to reset your password.

    Log In
    No Result
    View All Result
    • Login
    • Sign Up
    • Libya
    • Business
    • Advertising
    • About us
    • BusinessEye Magazine
    • Letters
    • Features
    • Why subscribe?
    • FAQs
    • Contact

    © 2022 LibyaHerald - Powered by Sparx Solutions.

    This website uses cookies. By continuing to use this website you are giving consent to cookies being used. Visit our Privacy and Cookie Policy.