“Nepal is interested in further promoting relations, cooperation, friendship in religious, many other fields”

By Publisher Lee Kyung-with Editor Kevin Lee

Newly accredited Ambassador Madam Jyoti Pyakuryal (Bhandari) said that she was very much interested in the promotion of relations, friendship and cooperation between her country of Nepal and Korea. At a meeting with Publisher-Chairman Lee Kyung-sik and his editorial team at the Embassy on Oct. 14, 2022, she said that cooperation in the religious area was also very important.
Publisher-Chairman Lee met with Ambassador Pyakuryal and Charge d’Affaires Ram Singh Thapa together with Chief Abbot Hyangdeok of the Cheonman-sa Buddhist Temple in Ulsan who was visiting Nepal and India for meeting with the Buddhist leaders in the two countries.

According to Korean Ministry of Foreign Affairs sources, Nepal is an inland country located in the Himalayas called the 'Rooftop of the World'. From tropical plains at 60 meters up to high peaks over 8,000 meters above sea level, including Everest, Annapurna, Dauligiri and Manaslu, Nepal is the place of diverse climates and vegetation as well as diverse languages and cultures of different ethnic groups. Because of her natural and cultural environment and historical sites such as Lumbini, the birthplace of Sakyamuni, many mountaineers and tourists from all over the world, including Korea are visiting Nepal.

Since the establishment of diplomatic relations in 1974, Korea and Nepal have been actively engaged in exchanges and cooperation in various fields. Recently, substantial cooperation between the two countries has been strengthened. Especially in the field of development cooperation, as Nepal is one of Korea's key partners of aids on grant and credit, there are many projects carried out by KOICA's Nepal office, and numerous Korean NGOs. They are contributing to the development of Nepal in social and industrial sectors such as education, technology, health care and agriculture. Korea's performance in the construction of infrastructure, including hydroelectric power plants, is also drawing attention

Regarding human interactions, the number of visitors between the two countries is increasing noticeably. Since the introduction of the Employment Permit System (EPS) in Nepal from 2007, more than 60,000 Nepali workers have worked in Korea and contributed to Korea's economic development.

After returning to Nepal, these workers have been active in many fields, leading Nepal's development. Also, about 30,000 Korean tourists visit Nepal every year for trekking and pilgrimage to Buddhist sanctuaries, and it is expected that active exchanges will continue in the future.