By The World Ambassador TWA ______ A six-member delegation from the All Pakistan Journalist Association (APJA) was warmly welcomed at the Embassy of the Republic of Korea in Islamabad by Ambassador Park Kijun. The visit aimed to explore and enhance media collaboration to promote Pak-Korea relations, cultural exchange, and economic cooperation. The APJA members comprised Iffat Rauf - Vice President, Abid Chaudhry - Secretary General, Wasif Ali Khan - Joint Secretary, Basharat Ali - President Punjab, and Adnan Hameed - Information Secretary. During the meeting, APJA Secretary General Abid Chaudhry shared his professional experiences in Seoul, highlighting the potential for future collaborations with the Korean Embassy. He emphasized APJA's commitment to strengthen bilateral ties and noted the successful dinner reception hosted in 2023 in honor of a Korean business delegation at Shahi Qila, Lahore. Abid expressed enthusiasm for welcoming more Korean business leaders to Pakistan in the future. CNN Urdu’s South Korea correspondent, Irfan Ghafor, also joined via video call and conversed with Ambassador Park Kijun in Korean, which was greatly appreciated. The meeting was attended by the Cultural Counselor and the Public Diplomacy Incharge from the Korean Embassy. Traditional and elaborate Korean dishes were served to the APJA members. Vice President APJA Iffat Rauf introduced the APJA team to Ambassador Park and expressed gratitude for the hospitality extended during the lunch reception. Ambassador Park Kijun commended the role of Pakistani media in fostering bilateral relations and shared his personal experiences of living and traveling in Pakistan. He assured the APJA members of his support in promoting cultural activities through media platforms. The ambassador also announced the Korean Embassy's upcoming mega events in Islamabad, scheduled for October 2024. These events will feature performances by renowned Korean artists and musicians at Liaquat Gymnasium and will be open to the public, aiming to attract large audiences and provide a vibrant cultural exchange experience. He further informed the delegation that the Embassy of the Republic of Korea is going to organize "2024 Korea Week" from 22nd October to 27th October 2024, which includes the "Korean National and Armed Forces Day Reception," "Korea-Pakistan Cultural Gala" at Liaquat Gymnasium in collaboration with the Ministry of Information & Broadcasting, "Korea-Pakistan Movie Day" at PNCA, and "Korean Ambassador's Cup National Taekwondo Championship" at Liaquat Gymnasium Islamabad. Discussing business opportunities, Ambassador Park highlighted Pakistan's potential, particularly in the agricultural sector, and acknowledged the global reputation of Pakistani products. He encouraged Pakistani business communities to engage with Korean counterparts, noting the professionalism of Pakistani mango exporters he had met. Ambassador Park recommended these exporters visit Korea to explore collaborative opportunities with Korean companies. Ambassador Park also informed that approximately 900 Korean nationals are residing in Pakistan, with many based in Lahore, Karachi, and Islamabad, predominantly working in various Korean companies. Addressing inquiries about the popularity of Korean cosmetics, the ambassador expressed the embassy's readiness to support Pakistani businesses interested in investing and learning about the Korean cosmetics sector. General Secretary Abid Chaudhry reaffirmed APJA's commitment to promote Pak-Korea relations and cultural activities through prominent media platforms, including CNN Urdu and THE WORLD AMBASSADOR - English.

At the conclusion of the meeting, Abid Chaudhry, along with association members, presented a commemorative shield to Ambassador Park. In return, the Korean Ambassador distributed souvenirs to the APJA members, symbolizing mutual respect and the promise of continued collaboration. The APJA delegation's visit marks a significant step towards enhancing media collaboration and fostering stronger cultural and economic ties between Pakistan and the Republic of Korea, setting a foundation for future initiatives and partnerships.