[Friends for decades] Jordan and Korea build on six decades of friendship
![Asal Al-Tal, ambassador of Jordan to Korea, speaks with the Korea JoongAng Daily at her diplomatic residence in Seoul recently. [PARK SANG-MOON]](https://koreajoongangdaily.joins.com/data/photo/2022/12/14/d0427eee-3660-499b-902e-4dc36c886b18.jpg)
Asal Al-Tal, ambassador of Jordan to Korea, speaks with the Korea JoongAng Daily at her diplomatic residence in Seoul recently. [PARK SANG-MOON]
On the walls are paintings depicting the cityscape of Amman, as well as classic mosaic pieces put together by Jordanians and Koreans, but there is yet another work that stands out.
A traditional calligraphic work in Hangul, keeping to the traditional vertical format, spells out the Jordanian ambassador’s name by taking the sounds of the Arabic words and transliterating them into Korean symbols.
“I find Hangul quite fascinating,” said Asal Al-Tal, speaking at her residence recently. “The alphabet is very easy to learn, I can read and write, and I hope to be fluent one day.”
![A painting of Jordan at the Jordanian diplomatic residence in Seoul. [ESTHER CHUNG]](https://koreajoongangdaily.joins.com/data/photo/2022/12/14/8da37b51-ce5d-4333-a45c-e70efc3e2988.jpg)
A painting of Jordan at the Jordanian diplomatic residence in Seoul. [ESTHER CHUNG]
In her time in Seoul, Al-Tal has noticed an increase in interest in cultural exchanges including for language study between the young populations of Jordan and Korea.
“The King Sejong Institute opened in Jordan last year, so we will likely see more students taking up the Korean language and Korean studies in Jordan,” she said. “I’ve also met many Koreans who’ve been going to Jordan to learn Arabic, so the interest between the peoples of Jordan and Korea are growing both ways.”
![A mosaic piece exhibited at the Jordanian diplomatic residence in Seoul. [ESTHER CHUNG]](https://koreajoongangdaily.joins.com/data/photo/2022/12/14/a6cf5f95-f8a0-44c4-bbd4-466853ac66d0.jpg)
A mosaic piece exhibited at the Jordanian diplomatic residence in Seoul. [ESTHER CHUNG]
To find out more about Jordan-Korea relations, including how the two nations marked their 60th anniversary of establishing ties this year, the Korea JoongAng Daily sat down with Al-Tal at her residence in Seoul. The following are edited excerpts of the interview.
What was the Jordanian foreign policy outlook when the two countries started relations formally in 1962?
As you know, the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan was founded in 1946, around a similar time that the First Republic of Korea was established. When we established our diplomatic relations in 1962, both countries were focused on developing their economies and markets further. I understand Korea established relations with dozens of countries that year, so we feel privileged that Jordan was one of them.
Jordan's foreign policy has always been that of being open with everyone, it’s one of the founding principles of our foreign policy. We understood early the importance of Korea and relations with North East Asia in general, an understanding that we maintain today.
Jordan's foreign policy has always been that of being open with everyone, it’s one of the founding principles of our foreign policy. We understood early the importance of Korea and relations with North East Asia in general, an understanding that we maintain today.
Jordan and Korea enjoyed official visits by their leaders over the years, with King Abdullah II of Jordan coming as many as five times since his coronation.
It reflects the importance of our relations on the political and economic levels. After each royal visit, many agreements and memoranda of understandings were signed, which have led to several joint projects and Korean investments in Jordan. It has also opened doors for more exchanges of students between Jordan and Korea, so I think the results were very positive.
Who makes up the Jordanian community in Korea today?
We have around 350 Jordanians living in Korea, of whom around 30 are students. They're studying different areas like medicine, engineering, political science and the Korean language. The King Sejong Institute opened in Jordan last year, so we will likely see more students taking up the Korean language and Korean studies in Jordan. The Korean Wave is definitely one of the drivers behind young Jordanians’ interest in Korea. I’ve also met many Koreans who’ve been going to Jordan to learn Arabic, so the interest between the peoples of Jordan and Korea are growing both ways.
Trade between Jordan and Korea has grown in recent years despite the pandemic. What’s drawing the two markets closer?
Jordanian exports to Korea have been growing in recent years, doubling from $49 million in 2016 to over $106 million in 2021, according to the Korea International Trade Association. Korea’s exports to Jordan have also grown despite the pandemic, from around $470 million in 2020 to $669 million last year. We are hoping to increase the trade level further, and work on the trade deficit.
Jordan imports from Korea mainly cars and parts for vehicles, as well as home appliances. Korean brands like Samsung and LG are very popular in Jordan and trusted by consumers. Our exports to Korea are mainly potash, aluminum and copper, fertilizer materials and raw materials used in textile manufacturing.
Jordan imports from Korea mainly cars and parts for vehicles, as well as home appliances. Korean brands like Samsung and LG are very popular in Jordan and trusted by consumers. Our exports to Korea are mainly potash, aluminum and copper, fertilizer materials and raw materials used in textile manufacturing.
How have trade ties changed with supply chain disruptions, energy crises and climate change effects?
There is heightened attention between Jordan and Korea on development of renewable energy resources. There are more than seven Korean companies with ongoing projects in Jordan, several of them working on wind farms and electricity generation projects, which are contributing very positively to Jordan's National Energy Strategy. The strategy aims at diversifying our energy mix and increasing the proportion of energy generation from renewable energy. We have huge areas in the desert that are flat and uninhabited, making them ideal locations for solar energy development. We have also excellent locations for wind farms.
![Baptism at the Bethany Beyond the Jordan. [JOURDAN TOURISM BOARD]](https://koreajoongangdaily.joins.com/data/photo/2022/12/14/a5cefa2f-d58a-4178-a91b-60052f408100.jpg)
Baptism at the Bethany Beyond the Jordan. [JOURDAN TOURISM BOARD]
Petra and other famous historic sites in Jordan are reported to have nearly recovered their pre-pandemic level of tourists. What are your recommended sites for a look at Jordan’s culture and history?
Jordan has launched a new tourism brand called the Kingdom of Time, and is offering different adventures throughout the country themed on ecotourism, religious tourism, historical tourism and biblical tourism. On biblical tourism, we have a Unesco-recognized site, Bethany beyond the Jordan, where Jesus Christ was baptized. This area will get a new development zone starting in December, to include new facilities for pilgrims and tourists to help their stay in the area be more comfortable and easier.
Prior to the pandemic, we had 23,000 Korean tourists in Jordan in 2019. We’re hoping to recover that number soon. Many were visiting Petra, one of the new seven wonders of the world, carved from rock thousands of years ago. I also recommend visiting the Dead Sea, which is located on the lowest point on Earth. For those passionate about history, I recommend the city of Jerash, where they will find well-preserved Roman historical sites.
Prior to the pandemic, we had 23,000 Korean tourists in Jordan in 2019. We’re hoping to recover that number soon. Many were visiting Petra, one of the new seven wonders of the world, carved from rock thousands of years ago. I also recommend visiting the Dead Sea, which is located on the lowest point on Earth. For those passionate about history, I recommend the city of Jerash, where they will find well-preserved Roman historical sites.
![[EMBASSY OF JORDAN IN KOREA]](https://koreajoongangdaily.joins.com/data/photo/2022/12/14/7b69255a-7c16-497e-9bf9-98974ab664b7.jpg)
[EMBASSY OF JORDAN IN KOREA]
Timeline of Jordan-Korea relations
1962 Establishment of ties
Jordan and Korea established diplomatic relations in July 1962.
![King of Jordan Hussein bin Talal, left, speaks with Korean President Chun Doo-hwan at the Blue House in Seoul during his visit in September 1983. [NATIONAL ARCHIVES OF KOREA]](https://koreajoongangdaily.joins.com/data/photo/2022/12/14/aa3862e2-c31c-43ee-8a88-da2f8671cec1.jpg)
King of Jordan Hussein bin Talal, left, speaks with Korean President Chun Doo-hwan at the Blue House in Seoul during his visit in September 1983. [NATIONAL ARCHIVES OF KOREA]
1983 King Hussein visits Seoul
King of Jordan Hussein bin Talal visited Korea from Sept. 10 to 13, 1983, the first time that a king of Jordan and a leader of a Middle Eastern nation visited Korea. Leaders from other countries in the region such as Qatar and Egypt visited Korea around this time as well.
1999 King Abdullah II visits
King Abdullah II of Jordan visited Korea from Dec. 4 to 6, 1999, as part of an Asia tour that included Japan. The visit came within the same year that the king ascended to the throne. During the visit, the king and President Kim Dae-jung approved an agreement to boost cultural exchanges through 2001.
2015 The royal visit
King Abdullah II of Jordan visited Korea in September 2015 and met with President Park Geun-hye. Marking the king’s fifth visit to Korea since his coronation, the two sides discussed cooperation on construction, energy, defense, health, culture, education and development.
![King Abdullah II of Jordan, left, speaks with President Park Geun-hye, right, at the Blue House during his visit in September 2015. [BLUE HOUSE]](https://koreajoongangdaily.joins.com/data/photo/2022/12/14/c3c2b958-38b0-4be5-afa6-5dac0f9214bf.jpg)
King Abdullah II of Jordan, left, speaks with President Park Geun-hye, right, at the Blue House during his visit in September 2015. [BLUE HOUSE]
2019 Korean tourists in Jordan
The number of Koreans visiting Jordan grew steadily from 12,789 in 2016 to 16,921 in 2018, and peaking at 23,000 in 2019, according to the Jordan Tourism Board. Since the onset of the pandemic, the numbers have dropped to 7,763 in 2020 but are slowly showing signs of recovery.
![A desert in Jordan. [JOURDAN TOURISM BOARD]](https://koreajoongangdaily.joins.com/data/photo/2022/12/14/a984abd0-c6ce-4bb8-a81b-e4a4083217d2.jpg)
A desert in Jordan. [JOURDAN TOURISM BOARD]
2020 Korea builds schools
Korea built three schools in Mafraq, Irbid and Zarqa, between 2017 and 2020, through allocation of its official overseas development aid, with the intention that these schools provide education to children of Syrian refugee families. A pilot project for the King Sejong Institute opened in Jordan in July 2020, launching formally at the University of Jordan in 2021.
2022 Anniversary of 60 years
![Ambassador Al-Tal, left, at the opening ceremony of a special exhibition on Jordan's folklore at the Multiculture Museum of Korea on July 26. [EMBASSY OF JORDAN IN KOREA]](https://koreajoongangdaily.joins.com/data/photo/2022/12/14/34be3019-bdfd-4b03-8628-a2605ea6eedd.jpg)
Ambassador Al-Tal, left, at the opening ceremony of a special exhibition on Jordan's folklore at the Multiculture Museum of Korea on July 26. [EMBASSY OF JORDAN IN KOREA]
BY ESTHER CHUNG [chung.juhee@joongang.co.kr]
with the Korea JoongAng Daily
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