Ambassador Yong-kil Kim of Korea paid tribute to the Columbans and specifically Fr Donal O’Keeffe in his address to this year’s Korea Festival 2025 at Farmleigh House in the Phoenix Park.
The Festival, the largest so far in the now annual event, was hosted by the Embassy of the Republic of Korea.
In his address, Ambassador Kim noted that: “This year marks 80 years since Korea’s liberation and 75 years since the Korean War began. We are honoured to have a special booth today highlighting the contributions of Irish missionaries and veterans. Later, we will have a special segment about their service and sacrifice.
He said he wanted to acknowledge one very special guest today: Fr Donal O’Keeffe.
Fr Donal O’Keeffe, Frances Crowe (Tapestry Artist), Jacqueline Creaven d’Towey (a cousin of Fr Francis Canavan. Jacqueline commissioned the tapestry by Frances Crowe to commemorate the Columban Martyrs who were killed in the Korean War), and Stephanie McNamara (a niece of Columban martyr Fr Tommie Cusack). Photo: ColumbanMissionImages.
“Fr Donal has lived and worked in Korea since 1976, and was named ‘Immigrant of the Year’ by the Korean government in 2021.”
“Fr Donal dedicated his life to serving others, working on issues like housing, migration, and disability. His knowledge and passion have helped strengthen the connection between our countries.”
“Fr Donal, along with other Columban missionaries and Irish veterans, hold a place of deep respect in the hearts of Koreans. We sincerely thank them for their enduring service and sacrifice. Their contribution enabled Koreans to transform a war-torn country into an economic and cultural powerhouse, home to Samsung smart phones, Hyundai and Kia cars, Squid Game and K-Pop Demon Hunters.”
Ambassador Yong-kil Kim of Korea at the Korea Festival in Farmleigh. Image: ColumbanMissionImages
Full Text of Ambassador Kim’s speech at the Korea Festival 2025
Deputy Lord Mayor of Dublin, Councillor John Stephens, members of the Diplomatic Corps, members of the Oireachtas, the Korean community, and distinguished guests.
My name is Yong-kil Kim, and I have the honour of serving as Ambassador of the Republic of Korea to Ireland. I have now spent two enriching years here, and in that time, I have come to know Ireland not only through its history and culture, but more importantly, through its people.
The hallmark of Irish hospitality is not just what people say, but what they do. The way strangers will walk you halfway across town to make sure you find the right bus stop. Or the ease with which you are welcomed into a local pub as if you’ve lived there your whole life. It is that instinctive generosity and openness, a genuine interest in others that makes Irish warmth feel so personal and unforgettable.
In return, we hope to share a bit of Korea with you today: through food, art, music, fashion, beauty, and more. Whether you are familiar with Korean culture or just discovering it, we are delighted you are here to experience it with us.
Special thanks to our guest of honour the Deputy Lord Mayor of Dublin, Councillor John Stephens, for his presence. We are also deeply grateful to all our artists, performers, chefs, especially those who’ve travelled from Korea, including the Kukkiwon Taekwondo Demonstration Team and musicians from Seoul National University. We also thank the Office of Public Works, Farmleigh House and our Korean and Irish performers living here in Ireland.
The timing of this festival is meaningful. I arrived in 2023, the year we marked the 40th anniversary of diplomatic relations between Korea and Ireland.
But our connection goes back further—through Irish veterans who served in the Korean War, and the remarkable legacy of Irish Columban missionaries.
This year marks 80 years since Korea’s liberation and 75 years since the Korean War began. We are honoured to have a special booth today highlighting the contributions of Irish missionaries and veterans. Later, we will have a special segment about their service and sacrifice.
Ladies and Gentlemen,
I want to acknowledge one very special guest today: Father Donal O’Keefe. Fr Donal has lived and worked in Korea since 1976 and was named “Immigrant of the Year” by the Korean government in 2021. Father Donal dedicated his life to serving others, working on issues like housing, migration, and disability. His knowledge and passion have helped strengthen the connection between our countries.
Fr. Donal, along with other Columban missionaries and Irish veterans, hold a place of deep respect in the hearts of Koreans. We sincerely thank them for their enduring service and sacrifice. Their contribution enabled Koreans to transform a war-torn country into an economic and cultural powerhouse, home to Samsung smart phones, Hyundai and Kia cars, Squid Game and K-Pop Demon Hunters.
Though Korea and Ireland are geographically distant, we are closely aligned in values: human rights, education, and a deep sense of community.
Our relationship is remarkably smooth, with no outstanding issues. In fact, one of our few trade matters, the import of Irish beef, was successfully resolved in 2023. Today, Irish beef proudly joins other high-quality Irish products on Korean shelves.
As Ambassador, my mission is to build on this strong and growing foundation by deepening cultural ties and promoting meaningful people-to-people exchanges between our two nations.
Today’s festival is part of that effort. While K-pop may have brought Korea into the global spotlight, there is much more to explore: our literature, traditional arts, fashion, cuisine, games, and tourism. We hope this event gives you a broader, deeper appreciation of Korea.
This is our first Korea Festival on this scale, and it would not have been possible without the dedication of our Embassy team and an extraordinary group of volunteers. I also extend sincere thanks to the Korean Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism, the Korea Heritage Service, the Korea Tourism Organization, and the National Institute for International Education.
Thank you all for being here. We hope today brings you joy, discovery, and perhaps a new connection to Korea. We are committed to deepening the friendship between our two nations, and I look forward to many more occasions to bring us together.
Go raibh míle maith agaibh!
Enjoy the festival.