On Tuesday, March 11, Minister of Foreign Affairs Cho Tae-yul hosted the 19th Iftar dinner in celebration of Ramadan. The event brought together a diverse group of distinguished guests, including members of the diplomatic corps from the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) member states, as well as representatives from the business sector, academia, media and the cultural sector.

Iftar, which means “breaking fast,” refers to the first meal taken after sunset during Ramadan. Since 2004, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs has held the Iftar events as part of its ongoing efforts to promote mutual friendship and cooperation with the Islamic world.

During his welcoming remarks, Minister Cho expressed his pleasure in hosting the Iftar dinner again this year, following last year’s successful gathering. He highlighted the deep and enduring ties between Korea and the Islamic world, underscoring the importance of this occasion in strengthening mutual understanding and cooperation. Minister Cho emphasized the spirit of Ramadan - remembrance, togetherness, and peace - stating Korea’s unwavering commitment to contributing to international peace and stability through these values.

In his congratulatory remarks, Ambassador Al-Nuaimi of the United Arab Emirates, Dean of the Arab Diplomatic Corps in Korea, extended his sincere appreciation to the Ministry for its continued tradition of hosting the Iftar dinners during Ramadan. He noted that ROK-Islamic relations have flourished based on mutual respect and understanding, and expressed hope that the dinner would further deepen bonds of friendship across different religions and cultures.

With approximately 200 distinguished guests in attendance, this year’s Iftar dinner served as a meaningful platform for communication between Korea and the Islamic world, reflecting on Ramadan’s core values of solidarity, tolerance, sharing, peace, and gratitude.