'Panama is a country that provides opportunities for business'

'Panama is a country that provides opportunities for business'

Bahk Sahng-hoon, Korea's ambassador to Panama, who will leave office in a few days, received 'The Star of Panama' in his office. He talked about his experience in the country, showing optimism about the Panamanian economy.

By La Estrella de Panama

When Bahk Sahng-hoon (Seoul, 1964) visited Panama for the first time in 2002, he never imagined becoming the highest representative of his nation in the Isthmus, fourteen years later. Since taking office in 2016, as Ambassador of Korea in Panama, he has sought to promote the image of his country, establishing the necessary bilateral relations.

Sahng-hoon was a participant in a historic event between the two nations, when trade ministers from Korea and five countries of Central America, Costa Rica, Honduras, El Salvador, Nicaragua and Panama met to sign a free trade agreement (FTA) on last February 12. "Korea is the second Asian country to sign an FTA with Panama, after Singapore," he says.

'I HAVE A SUGGESTION: IMPROVE ROAD ARTERIES. WITH MORE LIGHTING, MORE ASPHALTED AND MORE DRAINAGES FOR RAINS. THERE HAS BEEN MANY ACCIDENTS AND THE TRAFFIC IN THE CITY IS TERRIBLE '.

About 15 days ago he received a phone call from the Foreign Minister of his country, who informed him that his work in Panama was over. His nation had a special job for him. 'I will be the Ambassador for Public Diplomacy; it's an opportunity to serve my country, it's an offer I cannot refuse, "he says. Sahng-hoon regrets leaving early, but takes away 'experiences, achievements and satisfactions'. He also hopes to look a bit like the Panamanians, because he says that "they are always positive and cheerful." From the fourteenth floor of the RBS tower of the city, the Korean ambassador receives La Estrella de Panamá in his office, where he boasts a wonderful view of the city. Diplomat Sahng-hoon does not lose his smile while answering questions about his new role, his experience in Panama, what is left pending, business relations and the inter-Korean summit that aims to achieve peace.

To break the ice, before the interview, remember with special enthusiasm, that day that visited our press and could see a copy, with its pages already yellowed, the date when he was born. "It was a very gentle and impressive gesture to admire such a thing," he recalls. Since then, an edition of 'La Dean' has never been missing from his desk.

TELL ME, WHAT DOES IT MEAN FOR YOU TO BE AN AMBASSADOR?

Being an ambassador carries a great responsibility. It is a huge commitment. As an ambassador from Panama I never felt that my job was difficult, I really enjoyed my service in many ways. I tell you: I enjoyed working with my Panamanian counterparts, in the Government, in the National Assembly ... I met many businessmen, and many good people who always helped me and trusted in my good will to execute the things I wanted to do. I was a lucky one. Panama is a happy country. (smile)

THEY SEND TO YOU TO CITY OF PANAMA AND THINK WHAT WELL, PANAMA, A COUNTRY 'ALEGRE', AS IT HAS SAID IT BEFORE; NOW THEY RETURN TO SEOUL, BEFORE TIME ...

I have been here for two years and four months and I have enjoyed my service in this beautiful country. Normally we serve in a position for three years ... I will return to Seoul this week, where I will receive my new instructions from the Minister of Foreign Affairs.

AND, WHAT WILL YOUR NEW CHARGE BE?

Officially I will be ambassador for Public Diplomacy. It is a new concept of traditional diplomacy. In other words, government relations are left aside and one focuses basically on representing and promoting Korea through academia, the private sector, society and NGOs.

IS IT A MAJOR RESPONSIBILITY?

Yes. I accepted it with humility, it is a new challenge, and with the challenges come the opportunities. I will take them with great pleasure and I will always think how I can do my job in the best way. However, before leaving as Ambassador of Korea in Panama, I will continue doing it in the best possible way, until the last day.

HOW HAS YOUR DIPLOMATIC EXPERIENCE BEEN IN OUR COUNTRY?

If I could describe my experience, in Panama, it would be in a book. My book is made up of many chapters. I wrote my 'Chapter: Panama', for two years and four months, and that chapter is very rich, rewarding and, above all, happy. Before coming here, I had a list of 'what to do' as an ambassador, I had many things on that list. I cannot say that I completed each of them, but I can say that the ones I did were very rewarding and happy, and I feel satisfied with my service. The 'Chapter: Panama' was very well written, full of achievements and satisfactions.

AND WHAT WAS YOU PENDING?

As I was saying, in my list of 'things to do' as an ambassador, it was a long list, I could not complete it all, but I finished it 90%. The only one that I have not achieved, that I could achieve it if I had more time, would be to create a more substantial cooperation in the projects of waste management and water use and management. These are two areas in which I would like to see more progress and where I would like to see more achievements.

WHAT HAS BEEN THE MOST IMPORTANT MILESTONE BETWEEN PANAMA AND KOREA?

Probably the main achievement of the relations was the signing of the free trade agreement between Korea and Central America. We are waiting for the ratifications of both National Assemblies, both in Panama and in Korea. Everything will come into effect next year. We hope that with this, the exchange relations between the two countries will increase even more.

AND THE KOREAN PRESENCE IN THE COUNTRY?

The Korean community is not very big. We are 400 Koreans. We have 19 companies, and two of them, governmental. One of them is Kotra, whose objective is to promote Korean trade and investment in Panama and vice versa.

LET'S TALK, THEN OF THE COMMERCIAL CONTRIBUTIONS ...

Among the private ones, we have Samsung, LG, Hankook Tire, we even have a bank, KEB Hana Bank. Without a doubt, we see Panama as a 'hub' for the entire Latin American and Caribbean region.

AND YOU WHO KNOWS THE INTERNATIONAL DYNAMICS WELL, IS IT OPTIMISTIC AS TO THE ECONOMIC GROWTH OF THE COUNTRY?

Clear! We see Panama as a country that provides opportunities for business. And that's why I came here, to help you generate business. My contribution, if I could say it, in the 2 years and four months that I was here, was to update, improve and increase the friendship and cooperation of two countries.

WHAT IMPORTANCE DOES THE PANAMA CANAL HAVE FOR ITS COUNTRY?

Very many. We occupy the sixth place of customers, due to the load flow used by the Canal.

HOW DID THE PANAMANIAN SOCIETY PERCEIVE?

I admire the Panamanians very much. I like the attitude with which they face life. In Korea, we are more serious, very serious. In Panama, life is full of joy, the inhabitants are positive before the difficulties.

LET'S TALK, NOW ABOUT THE INTERCOREAN SUMMIT, A NEW PEACE WAS BETWEEN BOTH NATIONS?

In general terms, we are on a fragile road; however, we are making steady progress. An example of this: the historic summit between the Koreas of the North and the South, in April, the meeting between the embassies on two occasions, and the one that will take place in September in Pyongyang in North Korea. As you know, there are North Korea, South Korea and the United States, as the key parties in this litigation. However, China, Russia and Japan also want to raise their voices; technically the two Koreas are now at war, although this would have ended with the signing of the armistice agreement of July 27, 1953.

WHAT IS EXPECTED FROM THE MEETING IN PYONGYANG OF SEPTEMBER?

As you can see, Donald Trump and Kim-Yung Un met in Singapore in June and after that their representation still stands. Our representation is still standing: South Korea, as an ally of the United States ... so this tripartite agreement is on track. I know that there is no significant result, but both South Korea, North Korea and the United States are working very closely and the September summit will surely provide moments that will advance this discussion, where our goal is the total denuclearization of the peninsula. We want to achieve a permanent peace.

FINALLY, SOMETHING THAT SHOULD BE IMPROVED IN THE CITY OF PANAMA?

I have a suggestion: improve the arterial arteries. With more lighting, more asphalt and more drainage for the rains. There have been many accidents and the traffic in the city is terrible.