Democratic Republic of the Congo–South Korea relations refer to the bilateral relations between the Democratic Republic of the Congo and South Korea. The two countries established diplomatic relations on 1 April 1963. Democratic Republic of the Congo has an embassy in Seoul. South Korea has an embassy in Kinshasa.
History
The Democratic Republic of the Congo and South Korea officially established diplomatic relations on 1 April 1963. Since then, the two countries have maintained diplomatic ties and continued political and diplomatic cooperation.
In 1969, South Korea established a resident embassy in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (then known as Zaire), marking the formal institutionalization of diplomatic relations between the two countries.
Since establishing relations, the two nations have developed their ties through exchanges of ministerial and high-level officials. Notably, in 2011, South Korean president Lee Myung-bak visited the Democratic Republic of the Congo as part of his tour of Africa to discuss resources, development cooperation, and ways to expand bilateral collaboration.
South Korea maintains an embassy in Kinshasa, the capital of the Democratic Republic of the Congo.
In 2023, to mark the 60th anniversary of diplomatic relations, South Korea and the Democratic Republic of the Congo jointly held commemorative events in the diplomatic and cultural sectors, reaffirming their friendly relations.
Economic Cooperation
Trade
Trade between the Democratic Republic of the Congo and South Korea is relatively limited in scale but has a complementary structure. The Democratic Republic of the Congo is rich in natural resources, particularly minerals such as copper and cobalt, while South Korea primarily exports machinery and industrial finished products.
Development Assistance
South Korea has promoted development cooperation with the Democratic Republic of the Congo mainly through the Korea International Cooperation Agency (KOICA). Key areas of cooperation include strengthening public administration capacity, healthcare, and education, with programs being implemented in the form of grant aid on an ongoing basis.
Cultural and Human Exchange
South Korea has supported the development of cultural infrastructure in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, notably participating in the establishment of the National Museum of the Democratic Republic of the Congo. This museum is regarded as a symbolic achievement of cultural cooperation between the two countries.
In addition, both countries have gradually expanded human exchanges through cultural events, film festivals, and academic exchanges.
Democratic Republic of the Congo Nationals in South Korea
In South Korea, there is a small community of residents and professionals from the Democratic Republic of the Congo. They come from diverse backgrounds, including students, workers, and individuals active in cultural and artistic fields. Although relatively limited in number, they serve as a bridge between Korean society and African cultures.
Among them, individuals such as Jonathan Yiombi are notable examples. Born in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, he moved to South Korea with his family during childhood and has since built a career as a broadcaster and entertainer.
Jonathan has appeared on numerous Korean television programs and YouTube channels, gaining public recognition and serving as a prominent example of an African-origin entertainer in South Korea. In past interviews, he has spoken about his identity and experiences living in Korean society.
While the Congolese community in South Korea remains small, it is gradually becoming recognized as part of the country's cultural diversity and foreign resident population.
See also
- Foreign relations of the Democratic Republic of the Congo
- Foreign relations of South Korea
References
External links
Korea, South Category:Bilateral relations of South Korea
Cameroon–South Korea relations refer to the diplomatic, economic, development, cultural, and people-to-people relations between Cameroon and South Korea. The two countries have maintained continuous cooperation since establishing diplomatic relations in 1961.
History
Since establishing formal diplomatic relations in 1961, Cameroon and South Korea have developed their relationship primarily through development cooperation and people-to-people exchanges. The two countries have continued to cooperate in international conferences and multilateral diplomatic forums. South Korea, through the Korea International Cooperation Agency (KOICA), has supported various Official development assistance (ODA) projects in Cameroon in areas such as health, education, vocational training, and infrastructure.
Economic and trade exchanges have gradually expanded, with South Korea exporting manufactured goods and machinery, and Cameroon exporting agricultural products and minerals. In recent years, the two countries have explored cooperation in additional areas, including culture, sports, science and technology, and energy, diversifying their bilateral relationship.
Economic relations
Trade between South Korea and Cameroon is relatively modest. South Korea exports machinery, automobiles, and electronics, while Cameroon exports raw materials and agricultural products. KOICA has also implemented projects in Cameroon aimed at modernizing agriculture and improving access to drinking water, supporting the country's economic and social infrastructure development.
Cameroonians in South Korea
The Cameroonian community in South Korea is relatively small, consisting mainly of students, professionals, and individuals working in the arts and sports. In recent years, the number of residents from Africa in South Korea has steadily increased, and Cameroonians, though few in number, form part of a gradually diversifying African community in the country.
Refugees
One of the most well-known Cameroonians in South Korea is boxer Abdoulaye Assan. He participated in the 2015 CISM World Games in South Korea as a member of the Cameroonian national boxing team and subsequently applied for asylum. Assan cited violence and poor treatment within the Cameroonian military boxing team as grounds for persecution and requested refugee status.
On 18 July 2017, the South Korean government officially granted him refugee status. Shortly after receiving this recognition, he made his professional boxing debut in South Korea, winning a super welterweight championship title. He has since participated in charity matches and international bouts, including competitions against Japanese opponents.
See also
- Foreign relations of Cameroon
- Foreign relations of South Korea
References
External links
Korea, South Category:Bilateral relations of South Korea
Cameroon–Mexico relations are the bilateral diplomatic relations between Cameroon and Mexico. Both countries are members of the United Nations.
History
On 22 December 1975, the two countries established diplomatic relations. Relations have developed mainly within the framework of multilateral forums.
In 2010, a delegation from the Women and Family Affairs Office of the Government of Mexico visited Cameroon as an example of bilateral cooperation. The delegation presented programs implemented by the Secretariat of Social Welfare, the National System for Integral Family Development, and the National Institute for Women. In addition, the Government of Mexico provides scholarships to Cameroonian students for postgraduate studies and offers courses in foreign policy and the Spanish language for diplomats at the Matías Romero Institute. That same year, a delegation from Cameroon's Center for Democracy and Electoral Studies, the Electoral Commission, and the National Forum of Strategic Electoral Campaign Stakeholders participated in an international seminar on elections and justice organized by Mexico's National Electoral Institute. In 2010, the Government of Cameroon also sent a seventeen-member delegation to Cancún to take part in the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change.
Further visits took place on various occasions. The deputy director for Central America and the Caribbean at Cameroon’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs visited Mexico during Africa Week. The ambassador of Mexico to Nigeria, who was also accredited to Cameroon, represented the Mexican government at the celebration of the 50th anniversary of Cameroon's independence in 2010. Another visit was made by Cameroon’s minister of economy, planning, and regional development to participate in the first meeting of the Global Partnership for Effective Development Cooperation, held in Mexico.
In 2019, several hundred Cameroonian migrants arrived in Mexico while traveling toward the Mexico–United States border. Many sought asylum in the United States due to human rights violations in Cameroon and the separatist conflict in Ambazonia. However, most Cameroonians were denied entry into the United States, and some ultimately received asylum in Mexico.
See also
- Foreign relations of Cameroon
- Foreign relations of Mexico
References
Mexico Category:Bilateral relations of Mexico
Cameroon–Central African Republic relations are the bilateral diplomatic relations between Cameroon and the Central African Republic (CAR). The two countries share a state border that is 901 km long.
History
After gaining independence, Cameroon and the Central African Republic (CAR) initially maintained friendly relations. However, these relations deteriorated following the outbreak of the civil war in the CAR in 2012. In 2013, refugees from the CAR began arriving in Cameroon, leading to conflicts with local residents in eastern Cameroon over water, food shortages, and land disputes. According to the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), around 250,000 CAR refugees entered Cameroon, more than 8,000 of whom were settled in Timangolo, a town with a population of approximately 13,000. By 2017, the number of CAR refugees in Cameroon had risen to around 274,000, later increasing to approximately 300,000. In April 2017, 700 children from the CAR began attending primary school in Timangolo, while police arrested 30 refugees for attempting to steal food from a local farm.
From January to October 2017, the population of the refugee camp in Gado grew from 1,000 to 25,000. Refugees received medical assistance, though there were cases of children dying from starvation or injuries sustained while fleeing the CAR. According to UN humanitarian coordinator Najat Rochdi, $498 million was needed to address the refugees' needs. In October 2017, the Cameroonian government decided to close the border with the CAR following a new escalation of the conflict. Approximately 30% of the refugees lived in specialized camps, while the remaining 70% resided in rural areas of eastern Cameroon.
Trade
Approximately 80% of the Central African Republic's total exports and imports pass through Cameroon.
See also
- Foreign relations of Cameroon
- Foreign relations of the Central African Republic
- Cameroon–Central African Republic border
References
Central African Republic Category:Bilateral relations of the Central African Republic