Before coming to Georgia as the first, resident Ambassador of Korea, I was told that Georgia is a country that has sceneries as enchanting as Switzerland, food as enticing as Italy, and wine as entrancing as France. Since my arrival in February this year, I’ve only had a teensy taste of Georgia, but my verdict is, indeed, those who came before me were correct in their appraisals.

Nestled between the Black Sea and the Caucasus mountain ranges, Georgia boasts beautiful natural sceneries and rich cultural heritage in all realms, including history, arts and literature. Moreover, as the birthplace of wine spanning eight thousand years, its wine and culinary tradition is a true delight to all who visit the country. Korean visitors to Georgia also have taken notice as their number increased significantly from 14,000 in 2023 to 26,000 in 2024. Although not comparable to some of the European countries, the jump in the figure is meaningful in that growth in people-to-people exchanges can ignite direct flights, exchanges of businesses, followed by expansion in trade and investment. As Ambassador of Korea, I can only be hopeful about the growth in the number of travelers, for it is a barometer with which we can measure how far we have come so far.

The diplomatic relations between the Republic of Korea and Georgia were established 33 years ago in 1992. Korea first opened its Tbilisi office in 2015, and in November last year it decided to elevate the office to an embassy to further strengthen friendship and ties with Georgia. With my arrival as Ambassador to Georgia this year, the Korean mission in Tbilisi became a full-fledged embassy. We expect that year 2025 will be marked as the year that began anew expansion in bilateral and multilateral cooperation between the two nations.

Along with the recent surge in people-to-people exchanges, economic cooperation between the two countries is ready to take a great leap forward. For instance, the Economic Partnership Agreement, which is akin to free-trade agreement between Korea and Georgia, was agreed in November 2024 and is looking to be signed and enacted soon. Once enacted, it will provide a foundation and momentum for growth in bilateral trade and investment between the two countries. For our part, the embassy will continue to explore areas of potential cooperation that can bring about tangible benefits to both countries.

In Korea, a new chapter has begun as President Lee Jae-myung, a newly elected president of the country, took office on June 4. President Lee, in his inaugural address emphasized challenges and opportunities that are present in the current era of transformation marked by AI, climate change, and shifts in the international order. He remarked that if we take the lead and drive these changes instead of trailing behind, we can unlock limitless opportunities. I agree. Yes there are challenges we all face, including Georgia, yet they can be seized as opportunities.

Georgia has a lot to offer in terms of economic potentials, including renewable energy, tourism, and connectivity such as a transport corridor serving as a gateway between Asia and Europe. Also, by leveraging its rich cultural assets, marketing Georgia as a brand itself can help elevate future exports of home-grown products. With the right kind of investment and partnership, unlocking its promising potential may not be so far off.

So, then what can I do to help build partnership between Korea and Georgia? I found my answer while touring the city streets of Tbilisi. All nations have rituals and customs that are intrinsic to their identity. What caught my fancy in Georgia was a tamada—a toastmaster at a supra, which is Georgian feast tradition that is inscribed on the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Georgia list. A supra is led by a tamada who represents the collective soul of Georgian people, exemplifying not only Georgian hospitality but what it means to be Georgian at the core. He is a bridge who connects people, brings out their best, and one who unifies them for a purposeful end.

Having said that, my goal here is clear: I will be a Korean tamada in search of hidden gems of Georgia. As tamadas draw people closer, connecting the past to the present to bring out their best, I will endeavor to identify the best Georgia has to offer to the world in tourism, culinary traditions, and economic potentials. In doing so, our embassy will do our utmost to further deepen the already robust friendship and build new partnership between our two great nations!

By Hyon Du KIM, Ambassador of the Republic of Korea to Georgia