Honorary consuls are an integral part of any two countries’ diplomatic relations.

While ambassadors generally serve in a foreign country for 3-5 years, honorary consuls are there for a longer period of time.

The Swiss Embassy recently welcomed Busan’s newest honorary consul while thanking the previous honorary consul who served for almost two decades representing Switzerland’s interests in the port city of Busan.

“In these last 17 years, Kang Soo-hun has served with a great sense of duty and loyalty to Switzerland and has helped the work of five Swiss Ambassadors since. Ambassadors come and go, honorary consuls remain for much longer time,” said Swiss Ambassador Thomas Kupfer.

Taking Kang’s place is Swiss citizen Jan Bremer who works in Busan as director of Wartsila Supply Management.

“The famous Swiss company Sulzer, with its world-famous ship engines, has been integrated into the big Wartsilla Company,” said Kupfer.

Bremer has called Busan home for the past four years with his wife and two sons and is a very active member of the community serving as member of the board of directors of the Busan International Foreign School and lectures at Busan Pukyong National University.

“I am sure that Mr. Bremer will continue the excellent work of Mr. Kang and be a Swiss pillar here in Busan to enhance Swiss relations with the Busan authorities and business community as well as to link with the small Swiss community in Busan,” said Kupfer.

Kang, 70, is retiring from the diplomatic corps and plans to further his golf game.

By Yoav Cerralbo (yoav@heraldcorp.com)