South Korean Ambassador to Bangladesh Lee Jang-keun has highlighted the role of Global Korea Scholarship (GKS) Bangladesh alumni in strengthening and deepening the friendly ties between Bangladesh and Korea. He particularly mentioned their role in connecting the many talented and ambitious Bangladesh youth with the Korean academic community. Ambassador Lee also asked them to play an important role in celebrating the 50th anniversary of diplomatic relations between the two countries in 2023. Also read: Ambassador Lee eyes 3 dynamic strategies to boost Dhaka-Seoul ties He wished that more Bangladeshi students could find chances to study in Korea in the coming years and expressed his commitment to making strenuous efforts to this end. On Saturday, the Embassy of the Republic of Korea hosted the first ever GKS alumni meet-up in Dhaka in cooperation with the GKS Bangladesh Alumni Association. Around 40 GKS Bangladesh alumni members, President of the Korea-Bangladesh Chamber of Commerce and Industry (KBCCI) and Chairman of the Meghna Group of Industries Mostafa Kamal, President of the Korean Community Association in Bangladesh Yoo Yong-oh, Director of KOICA Dhaka Office Do Young-Ah and other dignitaries participated in today’s event. The Global Korea Scholarship is a South Korean government programme to provide foreign students with an opportunity to study in Korean universities with scholarship. Under this program, every year around 20 Bangladesh students are going to Korea for undergraduate or graduate studies. Since 2011, 172 Bangladeshi students have benefitted from the GKS program, among which 137 were in graduate programs while 35 were in undergraduate programmes, according to the South Korean Embassy in Dhaka. At present, around 1,500 Bangladeshi students are studying in Korean universities, most of them with various scholarships opportunities, including the GKS. The number of Bangladesh students in Korea continues to increase every year, and Korea is becoming an increasingly preferred destination for Bangladesh as well as for students from all around the world, said the Embassy.

South Korean Ambassador to Bangladesh Lee Jang-keun on Thursday said the current geopolitical situation, to some extent, is creating more opportunities than challenges to Bangladesh and South Korea for closer collaboration. "Companies have realized the risks from geopolitical confrontations and the necessity of diversifying their investment and partners. In this situation Bangladesh is increasingly becoming an attractive partner for Korean companies," he said. The South Korean Ambassador made the remarks while addressing a seminar at the Foreign Service Academy. Foreign Minister AK Abdul Momen, who spoke as the chief guest at the seminar, said he is confident that together the two countries can build a peaceful and prosperous future for all as they have crossed the milestone of fifty years of friendship. Momen said Bangladesh seeks to elevate the bilateral relationship with South Korea to new heights, forging a deeper comprehensive economic partnership based on common priorities with long-term perspectives. “I believe unflinching political commitment from both sides and regular high-level consultations are highly essential to this end,” he added. Also read: Dhaka, Seoul to work together for their prosperity The Ambassador said that South Korea is becoming a more and more attractive partner to Bangladesh for reducing or avoiding the geopolitical risk. Obviously, Ambassador Lee said, the current geopolitical situation around the world is posing grave challenges to all, not only internationally but also regionally and bilaterally. The consequent disruptions in the global supply chain have put many countries in difficulties including Korea and Bangladesh, he said. "We all have to cooperate together more than before to get over these unprecedented geopolitical challenges of today," he said. Lee said his goal and ambition as an ambassador to Bangladesh is to make the most of the 50th anniversary next year as an important stepping stone and a really meaningful momentum to deepen and strengthen the ties between the two countries. Despite the disruptions from the Corona pandemic, he said, the trade volume between the two countries reached a “historic high” last year crossing US$2 billion and increased by more than 40 percent, both in import and export. “We have many more stories to share. Considering all these achievements we have made so far, our relationship and friendly ties look brighter in coming years and decades,” said Ambassador Lee. The envoy said he is sure that the new administration in Korea will offer a fresh opportunity for the two countries to open a new chapter of comprehensive partnership towards the next five decades, obviously based on the many achievements already made together so far. Also read: Dhaka, Seoul working closely to make more success stories: Envoy “I would like to assure you of my own commitment to make my utmost to this end and hope everybody to join in our joint journey towards a better and promising future relations,” he said. The Ambassador said a research report of Dhaka University will help them enhance their understanding not only of the fact but also of the value and meaning of Korea-Bangladesh relations so that they could chart together a new course of Korea-Bangladesh ties in the coming years and decades.  The Embassy of the Republic of Korea, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Bangladesh and the East Asia Study Center of the University of Dhaka jointly the organized seminar on the study of "50 Years of Korea-Bangladesh Relations: Trends and Directions" at Foreign Service Academy. Bangladesh Ambassador to South Korea Delwar Hossain joined virtually as special guest at the seminar chaired by Dhaka University Prof Dr Delwar Hossain.