ANNAPOLIS, MD—Governor Larry Hogan today met with the U.S. Ambassador to the Republic of Korea Philip S. Goldberg, along with key government officials and Korean business leaders at a reception hosted at Habib House, the ambassador’s residence in Seoul.
“We truly appreciate the enduring ties of alliance and friendship between the Republic of Korea, the State of Maryland, and the United States of America,” said Governor Hogan, who is leading the seventh and final trade mission of his time in office. “2022 marks 15 years since the historic free trade agreement between the U.S. and the Republic of Korea was first signed. Today, Korea is one of the largest trading partners of the United States, and we recently marked the dawn of a new chapter in our alliance with the commitment to forge new ties in a number of key sectors.”
In addition to celebrating the close diplomatic ties between the United States and the Republic of Korea, the governor also discussed Maryland’s special relationship with South Korea. Maryland currently has two sister state relationships in Korea with Gyeongnam-do and Jeollanam-do, which is First Lady Yumi Hogan’s home province. Last year, Maryland committed $250,000 to support the ongoing maintenance of the new Wall of Remembrance at the Korean War Veterans Memorial in Washington, D.C. Last October, the governor officially opened Maryland’s Koreatown in Ellicott City, one of the few in the U.S.
Meeting With Korean Foreign Minister. Earlier in the day, during the Jeju Forum for Peace and Prosperity, Governor Hogan took part in a working lunch with Korean Minister of Foreign Affairs Park Jin to discuss issues of mutual concern, and ways to strengthen ties between the State of Maryland and the Republic of Korea.
Earlier this year, Governor Hogan was awarded the Gwanghwa Medal (Gwanghwajang) by South Korea’s Ambassador to the United States Lee Soo-hyuck. The Gwanghwa Medal is the highest award that the Republic of Korea bestows to foreign dignitaries for improving relations and diplomatic ties.
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