The delegation is headed Korean President Special Adviser on Iraq Byung-do Han. He will be accompanied by four members of parliament who will tour several locations in the Kurdistan Region. They have been in Baghdad for two days.
"The delegation is in Erbil to celebrate the 30th anniversary of parallel relations between the Kurdistan Region and Republic of Korea" Choi Kwang-Jin, the consul general of Republic of Korea told Rudaw in an interview on Monday.
Seoul has a consulate in Erbil since 2008 and the Korean government has actively supported the Kurdistan Region with infrastructure projects, training, and other initiatives.
"The delegation will visit several famous places in Erbil, and will meet with high governmental and military officials, in order to reactivate the relations between the Kurdistan Region and Republic of Korea,” Kwang-Jin added.
Official commerce between Republic of Korea and Iraq started in 1989. During the US invasion of 2003, Korea’s Zaytun Division came to Iraq from 2004-2008 and stationed about 3,200 forces in Erbil. The Korean division built 61 schools, 15 health care centers, aiding 87,000 people from the Kurdistan Region with free health services at the Zaytun Hospital.
Many Korean investors, business owners and companies remained active in the Kurdistan Region from 2005-2014 until the Islamic State (ISIS) group attacked several areas across Iraq resulting in Korea withdrawing its nationals including from the Kurdistan Region. Korea is a member of the US-led Global Coalition to Defeat ISIS.
Now, the Korean delegation is hoping to pave the way to return for hundreds of its business owners and investors, amid better security, stability, and business indicators in the Kurdistan Region.
