Ecuador’s coat of arms has been presented to Daesung Group chief Kim Young-tae to recognize his work to promote ties between Korea and the Latin American country.

The chairman and CEO of the energy conglomerate has been an honorary consul of Ecuador to Seoul since August 2006.

“I have been consul to Ecuador for five years and during that time I have always striven to foster even better cultural understanding between Korea and Ecuador,” Kim said.

“Next year will mark the 50th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between Korea and Ecuador, which have become stronger over that time.

“We will expect this friendship to grow as the distance between our two countries seems to get smaller.”

Kim was presented with the coat of arms by Ecuadorian ambassador to Korea Nicolas Trujillo at the country’s embassy in Seoul on Thursday. The event was attended by the director of MOFAT’s Latin American Bureau Jang Keun-ho as well as other Latin American diplomats and ambassadors to Korea.

Trujillo said: “We are extremely honored to have someone who is such a distinguished member of the Korean business world drawing the countries of Ecuador and Korea closer together. We look forward to continuing to developing our partnership in the best interest of the Korean and Ecuadorian people.”

Kim said he would hang the plaque presented to him in his new headquarters at the recently-opened Daesung D-Cube City Hotel in the Sindorim, southwest Seoul.

“It will spur me on in my efforts to increase the collaboration between Ecuador and Seoul,” he added.