Kim Yuna appointed honorary ambassador by Canadian Embassy in Seoul

Diplomacy

Published: 15 Dec. 2022, 12:04 Updated: 15 Dec. 2022, 13:14

Kim Yuna appointed honorary ambassador by Canadian Embassy in Seoul

Tamara Mawhinney, charge d’affaires of the Canadian Embassy in Seoul, left, with newly-appointed honorary ambassador of Canada to Korea, Olympic gold medalist figure skater Kim Yuna, right, at the embassy in Seoul during a ceremony on Monday. Kim was appointed on the occasion of the 60th anniversary of relations between Canada and Korea next year. [EMBASSY OF CANADA IN KOREA]

Figure skating champion Kim Yuna was appointed an honorary ambassador by the Canadian Embassy in Seoul for the 60th anniversary of relations between Canada and Korea coming up next year.

“I personally have a special bond with Canada,” Kim was quoted as saying by the embassy. “Canada is where I spent a long time training as a figure skater, and it is also where I won the Olympic gold medal.”

Kim won gold at the 2010 Winter Olympic Games in Vancouver.

“It is my great pleasure to be appointed as an honorary ambassador of Canada, a country that has a special place in my heart, to mark the 60 years of diplomatic ties between Canada and Korea,” Kim said.

Canada and Korea established diplomatic relations in 1963.

The Korean Embassy in Canada also appointed an honorary ambassador of Korea to Canada on the occasion of the anniversary. Canadian actor Jean Yoon, known for her role as “Umma” in Canadian sitcom “Kim’s Convenience," will be serving in the one-year role. Yoon was named the best lead actress in a comedy at the Canadian Screen Awards in 2022.

Actor Jean Yoon, known for her role as "Umma" in Canadian sitcom "Kim's Convenience," has been appointed as an honorary ambassador by the Korean Embassy in Canada. [EMBASSY OF KOREA IN CANADA]

“Korea is a strategic partner for Canada, and these are very exciting and promising times for Canada-Korea relations,” said Tamara Mawhinney, chargé d’affaires of the Canadian Embassy in Seoul. “We are doing lots of preparation for next year and I hope that many people will join us in the celebration”.

There are more than 200,000 Korean-Canadians living in Canada, and around 27,000 Canadians in Korea, according to the embassy.

One of the historic milestones in the history of people-to-people ties between the two countries is the Canadian participation in the 1950-53 Korean War. Canada sent 26,791 military men and women to fight in the war. A total of 516 Canadian soldiers died during the war, and another 1,235 were injured or went missing.

BY ESTHER CHUNG [chung.juhee@joongang.co.kr]