Cuban Regime Inaugurates Its Embassy in South Korea
In February 2024, Havana and Seoul reestablished diplomatic relations, which had been suspended since 1959.
MIAMI, United States – The Cuban regime officially inaugurated its embassy in South Korea on Tuesday, June 10, as part of the process of consolidating the diplomatic relations established between Havana and Seoul. The Cuban diplomatic mission is located in the Jung District, in the center of the South Korean capital.
According to a report by the Yonhap agency, during the ceremony, Ariel Lorenzo Rodríguez, Director for Asia and Oceania at the Cuban Ministry of Foreign Affairs, stated: “I am simply delighted that our two countries are entering a new phase, in which we will pursue our shared interests and strengthen our relations.”
The event was attended by South Korean government officials, Latin American diplomats, and other guests.
The Cuban ambassador to South Korea, Claudio Raúl Monzón Baeza, highlighted Havana’s interest in establishing stronger economic ties with Seoul, particularly in areas such as “the trade of Cuban products like tobacco, biopharmaceuticals, honey, and coffee.”
Monzón also emphasized that the relationship between the two countries has roots beyond diplomacy: “Exchanges in areas such as culture and sports already existed even before official ties were established.”
From South Korea, Lee Joo-il, Director General for Latin America and the Caribbean at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, stated that the new Cuban embassy will help strengthen channels of communication and cooperation: “The opening of the embassy will facilitate exchanges and dialogue between both countries.”
The South Korean government opened its embassy in Havana in January of this year and appointed career diplomat Lee Ho-yul as ambassador. For his part, Monzón began his duties in Seoul that same month.
Authorities from both countries have agreed that the opening of embassies represents an opportunity to advance joint projects in key sectors such as trade, investment, and bilateral cooperation. Ariel Lorenzo Rodríguez stressed that both nations are “in the process of exploring ways to build a new relationship in areas such as the economy, trade, and investment.”
Diplomatic relations between the Cuban regime and South Korea were reestablished on February 14, 2024. They had been suspended in 1959 due to the political and ideological alignment between the dictatorships of Cuba and North Korea.
According to the Cuban Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MINREX), “the establishment of official relations between both countries was carried out in accordance with the purposes and principles of the United Nations Charter, International Law, and in conformity with the spirit and norms established in the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations of April 18, 1961.” As early as 2016, Havana and Seoul had taken a step toward normalizing their relations when the chambers of commerce of both nations signed a memorandum of understanding to share business-related information, conduct exchanges between their delegations, and organize joint forums, according to the EFE news agency.
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