Thai National Day celebration in Seoul emphasizes bilateral relations with Korea

Thai Ambassador Tanee Sangrat gives opening speech during the country's National Day event in Seoul, Wednesday. Korea Times photo by Kim Hyun-bin

Thailand celebrated its National Day in Seoul, Wednesday, with an evening full of tributes to its history, culture and strengthening ties with Korea.

Thai Ambassador Tanee Sangrat highlighted the four significant occasions celebrated on Thailand's National Day: the National Day itself, the Birthday Anniversary of His Majesty the Late King Bhumibol Adulyadej the Great, Thailand’s Father’s Day and World Soil Day, which honors the late king's contributions to sustainable soil management and development.

This year's reception was particularly momentous for the relationship between Thailand and Korea, a bond forged during the 1950-53 Korean War and evolving into a multi-faceted strategic partnership.

"This is my first National Day reception in Seoul," Sangrat said. "Coming from a military family and having heard stories from those who served in the Korean War, it is a privilege to serve as ambassador in Seoul."

Sangrat recounted his attendance at the Interment Ceremony of Thai veteran Cpl. Rod Asanapan at the U.N. Memorial Cemetery in Busan, symbolizing the deep bonds and unwavering friendship between the two nations.

2024 saw renewed momentum in the strategic partnership between Thailand and Korea, marked by high-level visits and the first meeting between Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra and President Yoon Suk Yeol during the ASEAN Summit in October. Both leaders reaffirmed their commitment to closer cooperation, particularly in economic dimensions, aiming for a swift conclusion to the Economic Partnership Agreement negotiations next year.

People-to-people ties and cultural exchanges remain a key pillar of the bilateral relationship. "Sawasdee Seoul Thai Festival: T-Pop Story" in October attracted over 50,000 attendees, highlighting the growing cultural connections. The embassy's special passport project issued over 37,000 passports to Thai nationals in Korea, reflecting the increasing mobility between the two countries. Over 1.6 million Koreans visited Thailand this year, while more than 200,000 Thais traveled to Korea.

On the subject of cuisine, the ambassador announced that Thailand’s famous tom yum goong soup has been approved for UNESCO's Intangible Heritage of Humanity list.

Looking ahead, Sangrat underscored the dynamic nature of the Korea-Thailand relationship, driven by new dimensions and mutual benefits.

"Our Team Thailand in Seoul will seek to capitalize on Thailand’s and Korea’s economic potential," he said, highlighting upcoming initiatives to promote business collaboration in line with Thailand's priorities in enhancing its investment environment, competitiveness and future industries.