From December 6th to 7th, 2022, at the residence of the Indonesian Embassy located in Yeouido, Yeongdeungpo-gu, an event themed around tourism, culture, and a spectacular creative economy called “Colorful North Sulawesi in Seoul” was held. This event was jointly hosted by the Indonesian Embassy in Korea and the North Sulawesi government, with sponsorship from Garuda Indonesia.
The event was attended by the Indonesian Ambassador to Korea, the Ambassador’s wife, Kim Hyo-eun, Climate Change Ambassador of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Korea, and other notable figures, including:
- Indonesian Ambassador to Korea: Gandhi Suliasto
- Wife of the Indonesian Ambassador to Korea: Suci Suliasto
- Climate Change Ambassador of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Korea: Kim Hyo-eun
- Ambassador of Brunei in Korea: Pengiran Haji Nuryahya Pehin Dato Haji Yusof
- Ambassador of Laos: Soukanh Ralmouni
- Indonesian Ambassador to India: Lee Sang-deok
- Ambassador of Myanmar: Tan Sin
- Ambassador of Malaysia in Korea: Datuk Lim Juay Jin
- Ambassador of the Philippines: Maria Theresa Diokno-De Vega
- Thai Ambassador
- Head of North Sulawesi Tourism Office: Henry Gaihili
- Secretary-General of the ASEAN-Korea Centre: Kim Hae-yong
The event on the 6th featured traditional performances by the performing arts group from North Sulawesi and a fashion show by a designer from Indonesia. On the 7th, a networking event for professionals in the tourism industry was held.
“Event on December 6th, ‘Colorful North Sulawesi in Seoul’”
The event on the 6th began with welcoming remarks from the Head of North Sulawesi Tourism Office, congratulatory speeches from the Indonesian Ambassador to Korea, and a congratulatory speech from Kim Hyo-eun, Climate Change Ambassador of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Korea.
Following this, the event was filled with performances by the performing arts group from North Sulawesi who visited Korea and a gift-giving ceremony prepared by the Indonesian Embassy in Korea for both Korean and foreign guests. This was followed by a fashion show by a designer from Indonesia, and a designer from Korea also presented “Fusion Hanbok,” decorating the grand finale of the event.
“Discussion on Direct Flight Routes between Jeju and North Sulawesi”
Henry Gaihili, Head of North Sulawesi Tourism Office, explained the purpose of this visit in his welcoming speech. The purpose of this visit was to discuss direct flight routes between Jeju and North Sulawesi. North Sulawesi is an eastern region among the 37 regions of Indonesia. He mentioned that the area is similar in size to the combined areas of Gyeonggi Province, Seoul, Busan, and Daegu, with a population of approximately 2.6 million. Out of this, about 21% constitutes the economically productive population. He introduced the outstanding natural environment of North Sulawesi and mentioned that many divers visit to enjoy the beaches.
Kim Hyo-eun, Climate Change Ambassador of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Korea, stated that there is no need for special explanation regarding the close relationship between Indonesia and Korea. The two countries share a lot in every economic sector and actively exchange not only technology and culture, but also human resources. She expressed hope that after the end of the COVID-19 pandemic, many Korean tourists would visit North Sulawesi.
“Networking Event for Tourism Professionals on the 7th”
The networking event for tourism professionals held on the following day brought together professionals in various fields of the tourism industry, including travel agencies, hotels, and airlines, allowing them to get to know each other.
Starting with a presentation by Jeju Air, it was a time of various presentations, questions, and answers. This event provided a platform for officials from Korea and Indonesia to get to know each other and continue their business, with the establishment of business agreements for direct flight routes between Jeju and North Sulawesi already in progress.
In the post-COVID era, following the global economic downturn, particularly the decline of the tourism industry, there is keen interest in whether the tourism industry will be able to regain its former vitality. In particular, Indonesian travel destinations beloved by Koreans are once again receiving attention.
“Embassy of the Republic of Indonesia in Seoul, Yeouido”
- Address: 380 Yeouidaebang-ro, Yeongdeungpo-gu, Seoul
- Phone Number: 02-783-5675
- Operating Hours: (Mon-Fri) 9:00 AM – 5:00 PM
- Closed on Weekends and Public Holidays
- Website: https://kemlu.go.id/seoul/lc