Argentine independence celebrated
The Argentinian Embassy held a celebration on May 25 at the Argentinian ambassador’s residence in Seoul to mark the 201st anniversary of the formation of the Primera Junta, considered Argentina’s first patriotic government and one of two independence days celebrated in the South American country.Several Koreans involved in the Korea-Argentina relationship attended the event.
“This is my first national holiday, independence day of Argentina, since I became the Argentine ambassador to Korea,” said Carlos Alberto Arganaraz, the ambassador. “Argentina is a country made by immigration, we came from every part of the world [including Korea], so this is a moment of pleasure and friendship for everybody [in Korea].”
Argentina formed the Primera Junta, a provisional government, in 1810 to help the country fight its war of independence against Spain. Argentina formally declared independence in 1816 and the war ended in 1818.
Argentina and Korea began diplomatic ties in 1962, but bilateral relations between the two countries took off in 2004 when the Korean government launched a new initiative at the Korean Embassy in Argentina to strengthen cooperation in the development of natural resources throughout South America.
Park Wan-soo, vice president of the Argentine Society of Korea and a nine-year resident of Argentina, said members of the society are currently making efforts to build up diplomatic relations with Argentina as well as teach people in Argentina about Korea.
“There is an association in Argentina that studies Korea,” Park said. “The association holds annual forums, sponsored by the Korea Foundation and our society, where about 50 Argentine researchers and professors gather together to present theses about Korea. The forum is one of the big projects that we are supporting in Argentina now.
“We also participate in the annual forum about Argentina held in Korea [and] ... also invite diplomats of Central and South American countries to show how Korean agriculture operates.”
By Kim Hee-jin [heejin@joongang.co.kr]
with the Korea JoongAng Daily
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