Embassy of the Republic of Korea to Canada

The Embassy of the Republic of Korea and Senator Yonah Martin co-hosted a celebratory event on October 7 marking Korea’s National Foundation Day as well as the recent designation of October as Korean Heritage Month in Canada.

About 450 guests participated in the event at the Sir John A. MacDonald Building. Among the dignitaries were Senate Speaker Raymonde Gagné; House of Commons Speaker Greg Fergus; Minister of Innovation, Science and Industry François-Philippe Champagne; Minister of International Development Ahmed Hussen; Rob Oliphant, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Foreign Affairs; Lt.-Gen. Stephen Kelsey, Vice Chief of the Defence Staff; Vice Admiral Angus Topshee, Commander of the Royal Canadian Navy; Lt.-Gen. Eric Kenny, Commander of the Royal Canadian Air Force; Natasha Kim, Associate Deputy Minister of National Defence, as well as some 120 representatives of the Korean community, Korean War veterans, members of the Canada-Korea Interparliamentary Friendship Group, Canada Korea Society and the diplomatic corps in Ottawa.

“On Korea’s path toward modernization, industrialization and democratization, we met many new friends along the way,” Ambassador Lim Woongsoon said in his welcoming remarks. “In Canada, we found a partner willing to extend a helping hand and accept our own.”

An innovative blend of traditional and modern Korean musical performances heated up the festive mood, featuring Yeonji Hong, a renowned Korean fan dance (buchaechum) artist, Korean folk fusion music band Sangjaru and New Dawn Fever, a K-pop cover dance group based in Ottawa.

Earlier in the day, a wreath-laying ceremony was held at the Monument to Canadian Fallen in downtown Ottawa, followed by a flag-raising ceremony on Parliament Hill.

In June, the Senate of Canada unanimously adopted a motion recognizing October as Korean Heritage Month under the initiative of Senator Martin, a high-profile politician of Korean heritage.