The Embassy of Ukraine in Korea held a reception to celebrate 21 years of independence and the 20th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between Korea and Ukraine at Shilla Hotel, Thursday.

Ukrainian Ambassador to Korea Vasyl Marmazov highlighted the fast pace of bilateral relations between his country and Korea, and the ever growing affinity between the peoples of Korea and Ukraine in his welcome remarks during the reception.

Some 20,000 ethnic Koreans, dubbed “Koryo-saram,” reside in Ukraine many without legal status, and the envoy has made it a special focus for his work here.

Korean pop opera tenor Im Hyung-joo and pianist Kim Jin-ho performed for the foreign diplomatic community, Korean government officials and other VIPs and friends of Ukraine.

VIPs in attendance included Park Ro-byug, ambassador for energy and resources and Saenuri Party’s Rep. An Hong-joon, chairman of the Foreign Affairs, Trade and Unification Committee at the National Assembly, as well as business leaders Kim Dong Min of POSCO E&C and Lee Sukyu of Hyundai.