On Monday, Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) Prime Minister Masrour Barzani received Seungcheol Lim, the outgoing Consul General of the Republic of Korea, as he concludes his diplomatic mission in the Kurdistan Region.

Prime Minister Barzani extended his gratitude to Consul General Lim for his efforts in enhancing the bilateral relationship and the bond of friendship between the Kurdistan Region and South Korea. Prime Minister Barzani also expressed his appreciation for the support and cooperation of the Korean people and government.

Consul General Lim commended the KRG for its significant progress in the implementation of reforms across various sectors, remarking that the Kurdistan Region would always remain in his heart.

Read More: A Special Relationship: South Korea and the Kurdistan Region

There is a strong political and cultural relationship between South Korea and the Kurdistan Region.

South Korea’s Zaytun Division arrived in the Kurdistan Region in September 2004, joining the U.S.-led coalition to free Iraq from Saddam Hussein’s regime. By the end of their mission in 2008, over 3,000 South Koreans had served in Kurdistan. The unit constructed 59 schools and 16 hospitals, contributing directly to the region’s development. Their efforts also included the construction of the Zaytun Library in Sami Abdul Rahman Park in 2008, a gift from South Korea to Erbil.