The ROK Embassy in Japan held a “friendship night” event for Japanese who have studied in South Korea at a hotel in Minato Ward, Tokyo, on the evening of Nov. 16. A choral group of embassy staff members sang songs in both languages. Taking into account growing concerns about the bilateral relationship due to the ROK court ruling on the forced laborers and other issues, Ambassador Lee Su-hoon stated: “Japan and Korea have been close neighbors for thousands of years. While difficult issues have emerged recently, it is important to manage the relationship wisely.”

Some 190 civil servants, private company employees, and researchers on Korea who studied for more than one year in South Korea participated in this event, which has been held every year since 2016. This year, 10 embassy officials took the stage and sang at the event for the first time.

The head of the Korea Foundation Tokyo Office in the embassy came up with the idea of forming this choral group consisting of four men and six women, who practiced during their free time once a week starting in October. (Abridged)