Irish Ambassador to South Korea Michelle Winthrop speaks during an interview with Yonhap News Agency at her embassy in Seoul on Jan. 24, 2024. (Image courtesy of Yonhap)
SEOUL, Jan. 26 (Korea Bizwire) — Dubbing South Korea “the Ireland of Asia,” the top Irish envoy in Seoul voiced expectations for a deeper partnership as countries with striking parallels, from experiencing colonial grievances to making drastic economic leaps driven by resilient people.
Ambassador Michelle Winthrop made the remarks in an interview with Yonhap News Agency on Wednesday, saying she was surprised to learn how small South Korea is after taking her post in August 2022 and even more impressed with the determination of its people.
The envoy noted the following narrative familiar to South Koreans aptly applies to Ireland as well: a small nation with big neighbors, a country with practically no natural resources apart from its hardworking people, a resilient culture rooted in a history of hunger and colonization and a “slight” obsession with education.
“It’s that kind of deep-rooted cultural identity that does drive a certain determination and self-respect and a willingness to pull ourselves up by our bootstraps,” she said.
“I think what that means today is that as countries, we both share a strong focus on multilateralism on a degree of pragmatism where we tend to stand up for human rights … and neither Korea nor Ireland closes itself off from dialogue with other countries,” she said. “You don’t have much by way of natural resources apart from your people, and I think that then drives a commitment to free trade and globalization.”
Last year marked the 40th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between South Korea and Ireland.
In November, Irish Prime Minister Leo Varadkar led a delegation of economy-related ministers to Seoul and discussed ways to boost bilateral cooperation in a wide range of areas, such as trade, bio and education, during his meeting with President Yoon Suk Yeol.
“Our skills and capabilities are actually quite complementary, and what we’re good at and what you’re good at knit together,” she said. “We don’t really compete much on the world stage. … I hope that will continue to be the nature of our relationship.”
In particular, Winthrop welcomed the South Korean National Assembly’s decision in December to pass the sanitation conditions for importing Irish beef.
Irish Ambassador to South Korea Michelle Winthrop speaks during an interview with Yonhap News Agency at her embassy in Seoul on Jan. 24, 2024. (Image courtesy of Yonhap)
She expressed anticipation that Irish beef could be available in South Korean markets “hopefully by the second half of 2024,” though she said an on-site inspection of the facilities in Ireland and more paperwork still remain.
The ambassador reassured that Irish beef will not pose a threat to Korean farmers but will rather be competing with other imported beef, including from the United States and Australia.
Touching on Japan’s 1910-45 colonial rule of the Korean Peninsula, the envoy likened Ireland’s ties with the United Kingdom and stressed maintaining a positive tone for reconciliation despite the historical resentment.
“The way most Koreans talk about Japanese people is very similar to the way Irish people talk about British people,” she said. “It’s a combination of familiarity, grudging respect, frustration, irritation sometimes, and it’s a very complex relationship in the same way that ours is with the U.K.
“Even when it gets really difficult, we still maintain the constructive tone because we have to, and because if we don’t, then you’re giving a license for everybody to vent frustrations and then you’re creating division,” she added.
Winthrop expressed delight as South Korea began a two-year term at the U.N. Security Council as a nonpermanent member this year. Ireland served on the council for the 2021-2022 term.
“It is particularly good that Korea is joining the council at the same time as Japan, so to have Korea and Japan on the council both addressing the DPRK at the same time during a very difficult period,” she said.
The Irish envoy, who is also accredited to North Korea, said Dublin has not had any contact with Pyongyang since the COVID-19 pandemic broke out but remains open to any outreach for humanitarian assistance despite growing North Korean provocations.
“Ireland does unequivocally condemn North Korea’s provocations and particularly also their apparent military collaboration with Russia, which is only fueling this unjust and illegal war in Ukraine,” she said.
Nevertheless, she highlighted the need to make a distinction between maintaining diplomatic ties and reserving the right to condemn the actions of the regime, saying Ireland “fervently believes in humanitarian action.”
“At some point, in theory, I will get a phone call to say come and present credentials,” she said. “I’m still waiting, but the phone’s not ringing yet.”
(Yonhap)
