AMMAN - Jordan is becoming a favourite destination for South Koreans who are spurred into visiting it by Petra's being voted as one of the new seven wonders of the world.
Many newspapers and magazines in Seoul are promoting the Kingdom as a tourist destination, South Korea's Ambassador to Jordan Yeon Sung-shin told The Jordan Times this week.
"South Korean media is not only promoting Petra as a new wonder of world but also encouraging people to visit Jordan," he said, noting that the number of tourists from South Korea has shot up from 14,000 in 2005 to 28,000 in 2006 and close to 50,000 during the January-August period of this year.
By way of anecdote, the ambassador mentioned that a South Korean parliamentary delegation, visiting Jordan shortly after Petra was selected among the new wonders, was surprised to see three South Korean tourist groups visiting Petra at the same time.
Jordan and South Korea mostly hold contacts and discussions related to air transport, vocational training, health, finance, trade and business, and politics, said Yeon.
Korean Air and Royal Jordanian are holding cooperation talks, which, if implemented, are bound to increase relations even further between the two countries.
Real ties should exist between peoples, said the envoy, so more understanding will benefit all in all fields, he said.
As part of the existing cooperation, Yeon highlighted a renovation project of the Vocational Training Centre in Zarqa, a main contribution from South Korea to upgrade the level and skills of Jordanian manpower.
Also, he spoke about improving an existing blood bank in the northern part of the Kingdom, probably in Irbid.
Noting the importance of foreign development aid for Jordan's advancement, he underlined the need for Jordanians to make the best use of assistance money.
Seoul will continue to provide Jordan with development aid, which currently amounts to about $2 million per year, said the ambassador, adding that South Korean officials promised Prime Minister Marouf Bakhit during his last visit to Seoul to assist and push forward several projects in the Kingdom.
Besides projects, Yeon pointed to a $64 million development fund which provides loans at low interest and on easy terms.
The ambassador expressed keen desire to expand commercial ties between both countries and revealed that a Jordanian exhibition comprising around 35 businesses will be held in South Korea later this year.
During the exhibition, a cooperation agreement will be signed between the Jordan Enterprise Development Corporation and South Korea.
Asked about the possibility of signing a free trade agreement, the envoy said such a step will be on the agenda for the future noting that Seoul has signed a free trade deal with the United States and is currently negotiating one with the European Union.
Yeon described Korean business in the Kingdom as good pointing out that Korean companies view Jordan as a springboard to other neighbouring markets like Iraq, Syria and Palestine.
He said that 10 trade-oriented Korean companies are operating in Jordan at present, especially LG Electronics. Doosan, a Korean contractor, is currently building a power station in Rehab.
Politically, the ambassador expressed great appreciation for the support of the government regarding the Korean hostages in Afghanistan.
"I was impressed by the support shown by His Royal Highness Prince Hassan and the minister of foreign affairs and others who were quick to issue appeals for the release of the hostages," he said.
Appeals were issued by the World Conference of Religion for Peace and the Inter-Faith Dialogue.
"Undoubtedly, one can count on Jordan," he emphasized noting that the Kingdom shoulders critical positions and responsibilities related to Iraq, Palestine and Iran.
Ambassador Yeon ends his term in Jordan next week. He will be going back to South Korea where he will be a "noncommissioned envoy for Jordan."
As a temporary professor, he will be teaching about what he has learned in his travels abroad and contribute to better understanding of international issues to his countrymen.
By Samir Ghawi
© Jordan Times 2007
