Kenya, South Korea celebrate six decades of partnership as ties deepen

Nairobi, Kenya - On October 7, Kenya and South Korea celebrated six decades of partnership, marking the occasion with a reception hosted by the Embassy of the Republic of Korea in Nairobi. The event, which coincided with Korea's 4,358th National Foundation Day, underscored the deepening ties between the two nations across various sectors.

Foreign Affairs Principal Secretary Korir Sing'oei, the guest of honor, emphasized the foundation of the relationship on mutual respect and cooperation in areas such as technology, human capital development, defense, trade, and investment.

Sing'oei highlighted the importance of the shared commitment to multilateralism and peaceful dispute resolution, noting that it was particularly critical in the face of global polarization. The celebration brought together diplomats, members of the Korean community in Kenya, government officials, and business representatives. Notable attendees included Kenya's Permanent Representative to UN-Habitat, Nakhumicha S. Wafula, and John Mwendwa, CEO of the Kenya Investment Authority (Invest Kenya).

National Foundation Day commemorates the legendary founding of Gojoseon in 2333 BC and is observed annually on October 3. This year's celebrations in South Korea, themed "Unreplaceable Korea, Broadly Benefiting Humanity," highlighted the country's focus on using culture and technology to address global challenges. Prime Minister Han Seong-sook, during her national commemorative address, discussed the role of culture in tackling global issues and presented a vision for an "AI Basic Society," where the benefits of technology are widely shared and integrated into daily life.