Yesterday the Italian Embassy in Seoul hosted the presentation of the book “Italia Italia” by former Korean Ambassador in Rome, Kim Young Seok. The book, which is published in Korean, illustrates to local readers Italy’s twenty regions from both the historic-cultural and socio-economic points of view. “Even when I served at the United Nations in New York and in Europe, in the former Yugoslavia and Norway, I never stopped exploring Italy’s infinite sources of appeal and beauty,” said Ambassador Kim.
The presentation, which was promoted by Ambassador Marco della Seta, was attended by around seventy representatives of Korea’s world of politics, diplomacy, culture and media and, in particular, by former United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon and the world-renowned poet Ko Un.
Mr Ban Ki-moon recalled his ties with Italy and thanked our Country for what it has given to the world, especially within the United Nations, which was led by Ambassador Ban for ten years. “We admire you for the contribution that Italy has given and continues to give to the human society and to the civilisation of the whole world,” he said.
Ko Un, the most appreciated living Korean poet and known for having taken part in Korea’s first protest movement in the 1970s, expressed all his fondness for our Country – which he defined as “a miracle in the world” – and especially recalled his stays in Venice, the city which inspired his many trips to Italy. He said: “Today I have no doubts: if I were to be reborn, I could not choose a country better than yours.”
