Qatari Ambassador to South Korea Ali Hamad Mubarak Al Marri completed his posting here and returned to his home country before the embassy hosted its National Day reception in Seoul on Dec. 18.

In his place, Minister Counsellor Mohamed Ahmed Alsada presided as the embassy’s charge d’affaires during the reception.

Al Marri began his posting in December 2008, serving almost exactly five years to the day as his country’s top diplomat here. The South Korean ambassador to Qatar is Chung Kee-jong.

Al Marri was dean of the group of Arab ambassadors in South Korea and president of the Korea Arab Society. He presided at the eighth KAS board of directors meeting in February.

KAS has become an important part in growing ties between South Korea Arab countries.

Qatari Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani appointed Abdulla Obaid Al Dehaimi as the new ambassador to South Korea. Al Dehaimi is scheduled to arrive here in mid-January.

Qatar’s relationship with South Korea centers on oil and natural gas imports. South Korea is the second-largest importer of liquefied natural gas in the world.

South Korea imported about $25 billion worth of goods from Qatar in 2012, the vast majority being LNG.

Qatar’s National Day marks the assumption of power on Dec. 18, 1878, by Sheikh Jassim bin Mohammed Al Thani, the founder of Qatar as a nation.

By Philip Iglauer (ephilip2011@heraldcorp.com)