These entries were displayed as part of a reception organized by the Hungarian Embassy in Seoul to mark the 60th anniversary of the revolution.

“In 1956, Hungarians said ‘no’ to the communist regime that had been installed in the country eight years earlier, and fearlessly expressed their desire to live in a free and independent nation,” Hungarian Ambassador Gabor Csaba said in a speech Thursday.

“Although the revolution was crushed by overpowering Soviet forces, its memory and spirit have lived on as a source of inspiration to all Hungarians and people around the world.”

To a large extent, he argued, the revolt influenced the later development of Hungary as a relatively more humane society behind the Iron Curtain. The envoy added that its unfulfilled ideals were finally realized when Hungary became a democratic republic exactly 33 years later on Oct. 23, 1989. 

Since, the Central European nation -- now a member of the European Union, North Atlantic Treaty Organization, Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development, Visegrad Group and Schengen Area -- has charted a course of transition toward parliamentary democracy and market economy, according to the ambassador.

“The spectacular achievements in our bilateral relations flow from our shared values,” Csaba stressed, adding Korea also emerged from the devastation of the Korean War (1950-53) to mature as a democratic economy.

“The ideals my compatriots represented 60 years ago constitute the backbone of our current relationship, and ensure that Hungary and Korea work together to address some of the key challenges we face globally and here on the peninsula.”

Hungary was the first country from the Eastern Bloc to establish diplomatic ties with Korea, part of Seoul’s “Nordpolitik” foreign policy aimed at initiating relations with Central and Eastern European states, said Kim Hyong-zhin, Korean Deputy Foreign Minister for Political Affairs, in a speech.

“The revolution’s spirit of independence and resistance has inspired many Koreans and created an everlasting affinity between our peoples,” he claimed. 

In Budapest on Oct. 13, the third Korea-Visegrad 4 seminar on sharing the experiences of economic and societal transition was held, Kim noted, adding that Hungary’s “bold” reforms could enliven and strengthen the bilateral ties.

Mentioning that Samsung SDI has recently announced a plan to invest in electric vehicle battery manufacturing in Hungary, the minister said the annual trade volume increased more than 30-fold to $2 billion since 1989, and the two countries were joining hands in future industries.

Over $2.2 billion has been plowed into the Hungarian economy by Korean enterprises, and the export of Hungarian goods to Korea increased more than 42 percent last year. The number of Korean tourists to the Central European country, famous for its cultural and architectural heritage, has doubled since 2013 to 110,000 last year. 

At a separate event on Oct. 14, the ambassador bestowed the Knight’s Cross of the Hungarian Order of Merit to Korean Liszt Society president Hwang Yun-ha, acknowledging her contribution to promoting bilateral cultural ties.

At the same venue, Kwan Min-sae, winner of the 8th Korean Liszt Society piano competition and student at Seoul National University, received a scholarship to study at the Budapest Liszt Academy of Music for one year, in addition to $1,500. 

By Joel Lee (joel@heraldcorp.com)