Honduras Embassy Review

Photo by Jiyoo Nam

Consulate Circle visited the Honduras Embassy in Seoul at 11 Cheoggyecheon-ro, Jongno District in an event that ultimately was an excellent chance to discuss diplomatic relationships between Honduras and South Korea with the Honduras Embassy representatives. 

The Honduran Embassy plays a vital role in performing diplomatic missions and establishing cooperation between Honduras and the Republic of Korea. These relations have developed for the past four decades since the institution’s establishment in 1962. A major turning point in this bilateral relationship was attained when both countries established economic ties. With the constant highlight and introduction of Honduran products into Korea, their organic resources have been in high demand by technology companies. 

On a more regular basis, the embassy operates Monday through Friday from 9:00 am to 5:00 pm, performing tasks such as processing passports and visas, legalizing documents, and grappling with emergencies of Hondurans living in South Korea. Additionally, the embassies’ staff are constantly working to enhance the countries' bilateral relations and satisfy their country's interests. 

We were able to interview Ambassador Michelle Idiaquez Baradat. He has diplomatic working experience in the relations field and has tenure in different capacities. Baradat was previously the ambassador of the Honduran embassy in Spain, where he first developed his ties with Korean culture. Having learned Taekwondo from a young age, he always had constant diplomatic communication with Korean officials throughout his time in Spain. 

The interview included political relations, economic cooperation, educational, cultural, and scholarly exchanges, with concerns of mutual interest with embassy officials. One topic we had a deep discussion about was the cultural interaction between Honduras and South Korea. According to Mr. Baradat, a lot of South Koreans have little to no knowledge about Honduras and its culture. He also added that even though Honduras has a large market for Korean-wave products, such as K-pop and K-beauty, Hondurans misperceive the true essence of Korean culture. He said that, instead, Korea's long and rich culture and its antiques must be known and emphasized to Hondurans. 

To deal with these issues, the embassy has planned different cultural events to strengthen the ties between the two countries. Such occasions have entailed painting displays of Honduran artists and performances by cultural dancers. Moving forward, there are plans aimed at big promotion events showcasing Honduras' large coffee production from April 2nd to the 5th.

 Ultimately, this discussion led to the conversation of evaluating the extent of economic cooperation the two countries have. Ambassador Baradat emphasized that both nations possess complementary economic characteristics: Honduras is famous for its coffee production and distribution and South Korea for its electronic component production. Ambassador Baradat explained how the Free Trade Agreement between the two countries plans to demobilize tariffs on foreign exports. He again emphasized that, just like the Honduran embassy, embassies continue to be instrumental in ensuring a country’s economic interests through proposals and agreements that are of the interest of both countries.

The last subject discussed between Consulate Circle members and Ambassador Baradat was the prospects of future Honduran-South Korea cooperation. The ambassador acknowledged that political goodwill between the two countries, despite recent Korean political turmoil, was encouraging hopes of improving education linkages. Additionally, continued goodwill between the two countries has led to greater potential for expanded tourism opportunities through more open travel access. In general, both countries, as always, are seeking greater cultural cooperation and sharing. 

From the information we received during the visit, there are positive signs that more cooperation will be given to the existing ASEAN-Korea partnership in areas such as commerce, culture, and education. ASEAN is one of Korea's largest economic partnerships with different countries, one of which is Honduras. This collaboration is expected to foster mutual growth, strengthen trade relations, and promote cultural exchanges. Additionally, both parties aim to enhance technological innovation, improve educational programs, and boost investments in various sectors. These efforts will contribute to sustainable development, job creation, and economic resilience, ensuring long-term benefits for both ASEAN and Korea.

The visit to the Honduran Embassy proved useful in gaining a perception of present-day cooperation between the two countries. Through the creation of business relationships and interactions in the field of art and culture, both countries are hoping to form and continue growing the base of a strong relationship that is beneficial to themselves and their people.