South Korean expats in UAE to mark foundation day today

dubai — South Korean expats in Dubai are celebrating Gaecheonjeol or Korean Foundation Day today with Omar Bin Sultan Al Olama, Minister of State for Artificial Intelligence, attending as chief guest at the event.

South Koreans celebrate Gaecheonjeol or ‘Festival of the Opening of Heaven’ on October 3 every year. There are around 13,000 Korean expats in the UAE, with 7,000 of them living and working in Dubai and the Northern Emirates. Close to 170 Korean companies are also operating in various industries across the country while 1,600 South Korean students are currently enrolled in universities, institutions and various schools in the UAE.

Last year, 140,000 South Korean tourists visited or transited in the UAE and 10,000 Emiratis went to South Korea.

Speaking to Khaleej Times on Monday, South Korean ConsulGeneral Chun Young-wook, said: “The bilateral ties of friendship and cooperation between the UAE

and South Korea have been growing steadily. Both our countries’ economies are geared towards trade and foreign investment; we both have placed a key focus on expanding infrastructure, fostering innovation and improving ease of doing business.”

The South Korean diplomat noted that the trade volume between the UAE and South Korea has reached $15 billion (Dh55b) and last year, South Korea became the UAE’s eighth largest trade partner in terms of imports and ninth in exports.”

“South Korea has also participated in shaping Dubai’s global image, which is a testament to the expertise, talent and technology of Korean companies. The best example is Samsung C&T’s construction of Burj Khalifa, the world’s tallest building,” Wook added.

Wook said that South Korean companies “are leading the way in designing and producing cheap, useful environmental friendly ways to desalinate sea water and produce drinking water. South Korean engineering companies are also playing a significant role in building oil storage for the UAE’S Indian Ocean port.”