Finland seeks to boost cooperation with Korea
Finland and Korea share common values about education and hard work, especially in the technology field, newly appointed Finnish Ambassador to Korea Eero Antero Suominen believes.
“We both are, so to say, ‘countries of engineers’ who will develop technologies and who put emphasis on research and development,” he told The Korea Times. “We also want our children to get the best education possible.”
Suominen, who officially began his post this month, has already had a very tight, yet rewarding life in Seoul with several key visits between the two countries.
They include the visits of Finland’s Minister of Agriculture and Forestry Permanent Secretary Jaana Husu-Kallio and several business delegations promoting Finnish food.
Before coming to Korea, the diplomat was ambassador and Team Finland coordinator at the foreign ministry’s Department of External Economic Relations from 2013-2016 and served as consul general at the Consulate General of Finland in Guangzhou in China from 2009-2012.
He said Asia had become his main interest since his posting to China.
“This is a fascinating and dynamic region and also an important region for the world economy in general and important for Finnish exports and companies,” he said.
“I follow the events in Korea as well as the events more broadly in this region.”
With a strong passion for technology, Finland is eager to improve ties with Korea in research and development and to expand cooperation to include cultural exchanges such as lifestyle, food and tourism.
The Nordic country has led the world’s lifestyle trend and Korea is no exception. Its fresh food, including assorted berries and mushrooms, benefits from the Arctic environment and four seasons. Based on such high-quality products, the country has developed some specialties — natural products that are functional and healthy.
“Nordic lifestyle and products that reflect our life close to the nature seem to be of interest to the Koreans as well as the tourism to Finland,” Suominen said.
“For Koreans, Finland is quite an exotic country with aurora borealis — and Finland is known to be where Santa lives.”
“The Finnish food products we wish to export to Korea are healthy, made of good and pure high-quality ingredients.”
The ambassador said that to mark the 100th anniversary of Finland’s independence next year, an array of events, including concerts, seminars and exhibitions, would be held in Korea.