Small in Number, Slovaks Rally to Celebrate Their Big Day

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Small in Number, Slovaks Rally to Celebrate Their Big Day

Published: 05 Jan. 2003, 20:06

On Sunday, Eduard Kukan, Slovakia's foreign minister, here on an trade relations visit, hobnobbed with a slew of Korean politicians. On Monday, the ambassador of Slovakia, Peter Sopka, threw a bash at the Hotel Shilla in honor of National Day, his country's big holiday, coming Saturday.

Those Slovaks know how to throw a party.

About 250 people showed up at the Shilla to drink red Frankovka wine and white Rulandske wine and nibble cheese dumplings. Oh, yes, they were also there to honor the 8-year-old nation that formed when Czechoslovakia ratified a decision to peacefully divide into the Czech Republic and the Slovak Republic. Most of the Slovak community turned up, since only 10 live in Korea. The majority work at the Seoul embassy and one lives in Pusan.

by Joe Yong-hee