ERBIL, Kurdistan Region - Seungcheol Lim, the Republic of Korea’s Consul General to the Kurdistan Region, said relations between his country and the Kurdistan Region are steadily expanding in the sectors of education, economy and cultural exchanges.
In an interview with Rudaw’s Dilbxwin Dara on Monday in Erbil, Lim said that the Kurdistan Region has become increasingly familiar with South Korea.
“There are a lot of people who love Korea,” he said, noting that many Kurds became acquainted with South Korea through the Zaytun Division and the widespread popularity of Korean television dramas.
The Zaytun Division, which consisted of thousands of Korean troops, arrived in the Kurdistan Region in 2004, one year after the fall of the Ba'athist regime. Together with the Korean International Cooperation Agency (KOICA), the division has constructed more than 250 facilities in the Region.
Lim added that this familiarity has positively influenced trade and consumption patterns “Because of this phenomenon, many people are interested in Korean products,” Lim said, describing the local market as “very friendly to the Korean product.”
Addressing economic relations, Lim said Korean companies continue to maintain a strong presence in sectors such as electronics and automobiles.
“It depends on the product, but in my observation, they have gained more popularity in the market. Still, they keep the popularity,” he said.
With respect to cooperation in the education sector, Lim outlined multiple pathways for Kurdish students to pursue higher education in South Korea, including government-funded programs and university-based scholarships.
“There are several ways to visit Korea for study,” he said, referring to initiatives such as KOICA and national scholarship schemes, encouraging students to remain persistent, stating, “If you can study hard, then you can definitely get a scholarship from that university.”
Lim emphasized that academic exchange plays a strategic role in bilateral relations. “Those kinds of young people can be a link pin between two regions, two sides,” he said, underscoring education as a long-term investment in Erbil–Seoul relations.
Lim also highlighted cultural exchange as an important pillar of bilateral relations, noting growing interaction between Korean and Kurdish cultural communities. Referring to recent initiatives, he said, “Many Kurdistan people are already familiar with the Korean culture,” adding that artists and designers have begun combining elements from both traditions. “The culture is similar, the Korean culture and the Kurdistan culture. So it can be mixed well."
The following is the full transcript of the interview with South Korean Consul General to Erbil Seungcheol Lim:
Rudaw: Welcome. Good morning.
Seungcheol Lim: Good morning, Mr. Dara.
How are you? Are you well Mr. Lim? Are you well?
Yeah, I'm really enjoying the Kurdistan life in here in Erbil. Every day، I found new things in the Region. So, I'm very happy to be here. Thank you.
I am happy to have you as my guest. Upstairs, when we were coming down from the Rudaw general management office, in the elevator, a friend of ours came and we told him "come" (were). Mr. Lim said "were" is also "were" in Korean; it’s the same thing. I mean, "come." There are many common words between the Kurdish and Korean languages. For example, "come." What is "come" in Korean?
There are many similar words. For example, when we say "two" in Kurdish, you say "du." In Korea, we also say "du." "Three" also "se." In Korea, also the same, "se." And the "wara-wara." Yeah, it's "come-come." In Korea same. In Kurdish, "wara-wara..." and when we say "quick-quick," you say "pala-pala." In Korea, we say "palli-palli." This is a similar pronunciation.
You have travelled around Kurdistan a lot. Have you seen anyone—have you seen Kurds who speak Korean?
There are a lot of the Kurdistan people who can say [speak] Korean. And many people, when they approach me, they start with annyeonghaseyo, kamsahamnida, saranghaeyo. This is all Korean, which Kurdish people want to use. Annyeonghaseyo means beyanî baş [good morning in English] or "how are you." And kamsahamnida is zor spas [thank you]. And saranghaeyo means evîn [love], you know evîn. Yeah, love. So many people use Korean very well. I was surprised.
Have you noticed that Kurds like you? That they like the people of South Korea?
Yes, yes, yes. I feel... You call that hospitality. Many people, globally, we say "lady first," but in my observation, Kurdistan people are "guest first." They always do their best to hospitalize the guest. It is very impressive. This is Kurdish hospitality.
Kurds are hospitable. Christmas is approaching. Mr. Lim, what is the biggest holiday in South Korea?
In Korea, we have two big holiday seasons. One is the beginning of the year in the lunar calendar. And another thing is like Western countries' Thanksgiving, we have Chuseok. Chuseok is in the autumn season. So we give our thanks to the creator for our product, the fruit. So these two are the big holidays of Korea.
Mr. Lim, do you have any people or relatives in North Korea?
Yeah, there are many families who are divided between North and South Korea because of some tragedy. The family is now aged. Many people have already passed away, but still, there are many families who separated because of the Korean War. They are aged, but still, because of that, there are many sad stories.
These painful stories exist among us Kurds as well. You know Kurdistan is in four parts. For example, we have people in the North, South, and East. It is truly a drama. Are you able to visit one another? For instance, you and your relatives in North Korea?
That's not easy because when the North Korean people want to visit Korea, because of political reason, it's strictly banned. And also South Korea, if some people want to visit North Korea, they should get special permission. So not like Kurdistan people, the Korean people have more strict rules. So it is not easy.
Let me move to another question. Mr. Consul, how is the Korean market in Kurdistan? Is it going well? Is it stagnant, or has it declined?
I was surprised when I arrived here in Kurdistan. There are a lot of people who love Korea. So I ask many Kurdistan people, "How do you know Korea?" So they said to me two things: one thing is Zaytun Division, because Zaytun Division do many work for Kurdistan people as a friend. And second thing is Korean drama. A lot of people watched Korean drama through TV. So they already familiar with Korea. So in the market, because of this phenomenon, many people are interested in Korean product. So the market was very friendly to the Korean product. Maybe because of that, you are using Korean electronics and Korean cars and some Korean fabrics and Korean some dental kit and beauty kit. I found many good things in the market.
Is that market expanding? I mean, do you see expansion or growth in the future of that market?
I met some Korean businessmen, for example electronics or the car business. So it depends on the area, but most of them, they still have the majority status in the market. So it depends on the product, but in my observation they got more popularity in the market. Still they keep the popularity.
As the Consul General, or as the South Korean Consulate in Erbil, do you have a long-term strategy for relations with the Kurdistan Region? For example, what projects are you thinking of creating with Kurdistan?
Currently, the consulate is doing many activities to introduce the Korean experience or Korea's history of economic development to share Kurdistan people and Kurdistan government and Kurdistan experts. And also we are focusing on the young people, young generations of Kurdistan who have love to the Korean people. There are a lot of young people who are interested in Korean culture and Korean knowledge, Korean economic development history. So for me, luckily, it was a good opportunity to share the good things of both regions. So yeah, the consulate wants to boost this kind of phenomenon for good things of the Kurdistan people. This is a kind of long-term prospect about the relation between two sides.
There is the Zahawi House here. Mr. Consul, the Zahawi Music House is managed by Hazhar Zahawi. They often bring artists from outside Kurdistan here. They present several good concerts a year. For example, if you were to bring South Korean artists here in the future and perform concerts together, that would really be very, very nice. It would become a good bridge in the cultural and artistic spheres between Kurdistan and South Korea.
That's a very good idea. Because recently, when I visit some other area in the Kurdistan [Region], also in Erbil, many people are already familiar with the Korean culture. So they try to make some fusion culture. For example, last year we do some kind of event. At that event, some Kurdistan people tried to play Korean drum with daf, or yeah, Kurdish musical instrument. So they play together. And also many Kurdistan people who can make dress, they start to make changes in Korean traditional clothes to adjust [them] to the Kurdistan dress. So these two dresses mixed in one design. So I saw recently that design, it was very beautiful. So many brilliant Kurdistan people start to mix this culture. The culture is similar, the Korean culture and the Kurdistan culture. So it can be mixed well. So I found that thing as an evidence. Good idea.
It’s a good idea. If Korean design and Kurdish design were in one form, a beautiful motif would truly emerge. I mean, a Korean-Kurdish mix would be very beautiful. It would be very interesting for me to see, honestly.
Because the Kurdish history is very long, so your current culture is not abruptly shown up. This has history. So there is some philosophy. And also Korea has experience and survived and existence for long time. So this good cultures has some common area. So this new generation can make the new baby with these two cultures. So it will be very popular. So I thought it is a good idea. I think it is a good idea to mix this culture.
Mr. Lim, earlier we mentioned the Zaytun Division. We said that Kurds got to know and love the people of South Korea through the Zaytun Division. Aren't you thinking, for example, of bringing some of those Zaytun Division soldiers who were here in 2004 back for a visit to Kurdistan to see the places where they were stationed?
That is very good idea. Why I think this is a good idea? One of diplomats who was in the Zaytun Division decades ago, he visited here again as a diplomat. And he visited Erbil several months ago. And he was really surprised. When he was in Erbil as a soldier of Zaytun Division, at that time the environment was not so good. There was not so many houses, there was not so much infrastructure, some kind of modernized facility. There was nothing. But after decades, Erbil people really have done hard work. They tried their best to make their region prosperous. So nowadays, in 20 years, totally differentiated environment you have. Erbil people have this environment with your efforts. So if we invite the soldiers who worked in Erbil as a Zaytun Division members, they will be surprised. Even someone will cry. You did very well, you have done very well. So I want to let these soldiers praise you. Good idea.
It would be nice for those soldiers to see those places after all these years. These are good memories for them. You would be doing something very good if you brought those soldiers back to see the places where they worked.
Mr. Consul, something else came to my mind. As we are doing this interview, I thought of students from Rojava (northeastern Syria) or Kurdish students in general. For example, there are many students who want to go to South Korea to do their Master's, their PhD, or continue their studies. What kind of assistance can you provide for them?
There are several ways to visit Korea for study. The most popular route is KOICA route. The KOICA route is focusing on the public servant. Many public servants has opportunity to visit Korea. And also there is some long course for master degree. So every year we give this chance to the public servant in Kurdistan. That is one way. And another way is for just student who graduate from bachelor's degrees. And they can apply to the master course through the public fund of Korean government fund. And another way is there is website, we call that "Study in Korea." This is the name of that Facebook or website. You can find a lot of universities which are explaining about the way of apply to Korean university. So even though first semester, this school sometimes give scholarship, sometimes they do not give scholarship. But don't worry. If you cannot get scholarship in the first semester, Korean system is encouragement to many students to study hard. So if you can study hard, then you can definitely get scholarship from that university. So I encourage all the young generation to study hard and please apply Korean university if you like. Then maybe you can find good chance to learn about that area. And those kinds of young people can be a link pin between two regions, two sides.
How is the visa process? Do you issue visas easily? Do you give South Korean visas to people? Is it not difficult to get a visa?
There is no limitation or barrier. So we apply similar conditions to the Kurdistan people like in other country. We have tourism visa and we have student visa, we have some business visa. So many people are visiting Korea for business purpose. And not many, but every week there are Kurdistan people who apply the tourist visa. So if you want to visit Korea, please visit Korean consulate Facebook and consult with the Kurdistan officer who is in charge of visa matters.
Another thing, for example, can people whose passports are not Iraqi, like a Syrian passport for instance, get a visa here at the South Korean Consulate?
Good question. Our principle is like this, Korean government principle is that the third country people should apply their visa in their country's capital. That is the first principle. Sometimes they have occupation, they have office here in Kurdistan. Exceptionally, we can review that application. But the principle is in their capital. That's the principle.
That’s also a good thing. For example, regarding student visas, how many people or students go from here to study in Korea per year? Do you have a number? A figure?
I cannot remember exact number, but sometimes there is a student who apply Korean study visa. I can say currently not so many, but there is.
Mr. Lim, I read a news report saying that 40 percent of people in Korea live alone. That is, they aren't having children, or they have very few children. Is that so?
That's true. For example, my case, I have two more brothers. So I'm eldest, I have two brothers. And one brother has two boys, another brother has no child. This is because of some biological issues, he has no [children]. And I have my wife. My wife has one sister and one brother. This brother has two daughters, and her sister has no child because of biological issues. So sometimes because of biological issues we don't have children. Sometimes, because of some purpose of private goal, they postpone to have a baby. So the number of baby is reduced until recently. But from this year, the graph is reversed. So from this year, 2025, our number of babies is increasing, started to increase. But until last year, every year reduced number of babies. This is turning point.
Every country wants its population to increase. For example, does South Korea not want its population to increase or grow?
As I said, the population was reduced until last year, but from this year the number of population is started to increase.
South Korea's population is not that large. Don't they think about increasing their population? I mean, they have fewer children—doesn't this cause South Korea's population to either decrease or stay the same? Don't you think, or aren't you saying, that South Korea should be like other countries—for example, having its population grow to 100 million?
Definitely. The Korean government... Okay, there is a good example. Because of decreasing population, government poured a lot of budget to increase the population. So there was a calculation. In some districts, if you have one baby, then that district starts to give a lot of fund for that baby. So within the life until the old age, this baby can enjoy around, how can I say, 100 million dinars [$76,308] for a life. He can enjoy this fund to live. So we think of the reduction of the decline of the population is very critical. So government starts to give a lot of money to the family who have a baby. So now is the turning point.
I see your relationship with the Kurds is good; I follow it. I see your visits; you see them, they see you. What is the most delicious Kurdish food for you?
Definitely dolma. Onion dolma with slëk. You know slek [chard]. Yeah, yeah, I enjoyed. Whenever I visit some place I start with dolma and ask me what kind of drink, then I always answered Ayran mastaw. And then they give us biryani with chicken. And I tried other soup like tapsi and kofta, kubba, and mashy. Mashy is fishy. Masi, fishy. Yeah, yeah, in Kurdish masî. So I enjoy, especially with the tree [charcoal], with the fire, the fish is grilled very well. So the smell is very good. And kebab. Kebab also, yeah. One week ago I visit the Hawraman area. Hawraman kebab was very delicious.
What is the most beautiful place you would recommend for a Korean to come and see in Kurdistan as a tourist?
There is amazing place. You know Rawanduz. There is a valley. When I visit Rawanduz I was really shocked how we have this kind of scenery in hidden area in the Middle East. In the heart of Middle East, we have very scenic valley here. That is number one. Second thing is Amedi. Recently I visit Amedi. Amedi looks like a castle. And you know The Lord of the Rings, the film. In that film I feel some kind of mystic, like a legendary. When I visit Amedi I feel like that things. Oh, it looks like The Lord of the Rings. So if you develop this Amedi area as a background of some kinds of film, then maybe it will hit like K-pop [Korean Pop].
By God, you've eaten the most delicious Kurdish food and you've seen the most beautiful place in Kurdistan. You are lucky, Mr. Consul, you have a lot of luck.
I'm lucky man, I'm lucky man. Yeah, thank you. Thank you, creator.
Let me ask one last question. How many Koreans are there in Kurdistan?
Not so many. I cannot tell here, but not so many. Do you want to exact number? Please visit Korean consulate.
If there is an exact number, that would be good for me.
There's a number, but if you wanted the detailed number, please visit the Korean Consulate. I cannot say the exact number here.
I will come, I will come, I will come to the consulate. But I forgot to ask one thing briefly—for example, recently, Chinese cars have been dominating the market. Aren't you concerned about that? Don't you think that the arrival of these Chinese cars deals a blow to Korean cars? They're also cheap.
Okay, I make a example. Economy is like this. There is Samsung mobile phone and there is Apple mobile phone. Somebody use Apple mobile phone, somebody use Samsung mobile phone. As a Korean consul, I will be happy if you buy Samsung mobile phone more than Apple mobile phone. But economy is not like that. Even inside of the Apple mobile phone, nearly 20 percent or 30 percent of inside of Apple mobile phone is made by Samsung. So Samsung export the meaningful portion of Apple mobile. And also the screen is made by some US company, but this company is using Korean product for make this screen. So economy is like this. Even though we are competing in the market, but in the background they are cooperate to help each other. So I am encouraging Kurdistan people start to make "K-pop" here. Even though K-pop, everybody understand Korean pop song, but nowadays US make K-pop. K-pop demon hunters, made in US, but they are using Korean stuffs. Like this, Kurdistan people can make K-pop and Korean product here. So, I like economy. Everybody do their role. So market is always fair. So if somebody is doing very well, then they should get prize. So I hope Korean car also do their best.
Mr. Consul, do you personally use Samsung or Apple?
Ah, me? I have Samsung mobile phone. Because I am already accustomed to this Android system, so I always buy Samsung mobile.
I was happy, it was a good interview. I hope you liked it. And I will come to the consulate to find out how many Koreans live in Kurdistan.
Yes, yes, definitely. I will open the exact number when you visit the Korean consulate.