Singaporean Ambassador to South Korea Peter Tan hosted his fourth and final National Day celebration at the Hyatt Hotel on Tuesday by singing with his colleagues in the diplomatic corps.

A large group of envoys, diplomatic spouses and friends of Singapore gathered on stage to entertain the assembled guests.

“On a personal note, this is the fourth and final year I am hosting a National Day Reception in Seoul. It has been more than 3 1/2 years since my wife and I came to Korea. One of the finest things that we appreciate is the ‘jeong’ in every (one) of our Korean friends,” said Tan during welcome remarks at the 49th anniversary of Singapore’s independence from Malaysia during a reception in Seoul on Tuesday.

Singapore officially celebrates its National Day on Aug. 9.

Bilateral ties between South Korea and Singapore are strong. They inked an FTA ― South Korea’s second ― that went into force in 2006. Singapore is South Korea’s seventh-largest trading partner with two-way trade at $41.6 billion in 2012.

Tan, a career diplomat, is winding down his posting here in South Korea. A departure date and a replacement has not yet been announced by the embassy.

The new envoy, whoever it will be, will have his or her plate full. South Korea and Singapore will celebrate the 40th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations next year.

Beyond the bilateral relationship, this year also carries special meaning as the two countries celebrate the 25th anniversary of the establishment of South Korea’s ties with the Association of Southeast Asian Nations with a commemorative summit in December.

(ephilip2014@heraldcorp.com)