Steven H. Lee

Canada Ottawa Korea ambassador diplomatic relations

Though Canada recognized the Republic of Korea in 1949 and fought alongside South Korea in the Korean War, formal diplomatic relations were not established until 1963, partially because of Canadian distaste for the authoritarian ways of Syngman Rhee. However, after Park Chung Hee seized power in 1961, Canada put aside such qualms, and, at the urging of the Park government, agreed to put the Canada-Korea relationship on a formal diplomatic footing. This decision not only increased diplomatic interaction between the two states, both at the bilateral and multilateral levels, it also opened the door for Korean immigration to Canada and led to the gradual expansion of trade linkages between the two countries. Why did Canada change its mind? First of all, Canada was under pressure from both the U.S. and Japan to do so. Second, under Park, South Korea began gaining wider recognition on the world stage. Canada did not want to be one of the few “free world” countries that did not have formal diplomatic relations with the ROK. That might have a negative impact on corporations that wanted to do business with Korea. Third, in one sign that South Korea under Park was more interested in formal ties with Canada than it had been previously, the military government agreed that the Canadian ambassador to Japan could also serve as ambassador to Korea. That concession minimized the financial burden a formal exchange of ambassadors would have placed on the limited budget of Canada’s Department of External Affairs.