Source of insight into Korea for more than 2 decades: Canadian envoy

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Source of insight into Korea for more than 2 decades: Canadian envoy

Posted : 2020-10-28 16:50

Updated : 2020-10-29 14:12

Canadian Ambassador to Korea Michael Danagher

By Kim Se-jeong

Michael Danagher, the Canadian ambassador to Korea, has been reading The Korea Times since 1993 when he first served in Korea.

This is his third assignment in Korea, following 1993-97 and 2009-13. He has served in Africa, Asia and Europe and his recent responsibilities back in Ottawa focused on commercial relations with Asia, regional trade operations and intergovernmental relations. He was appointed as ambassador to Korea in 2018.

"The Korea Times is always a great source of insight into what's happening in the country. I think it is as focused on the English-speaking Korean audience as it is on international readers, so the reports in the paper show a sophisticated level of knowledge and analysis on events here," Danagher said in an email interview.

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"I particularly enjoy the op-ed page, which I have to say is something I read very carefully every day ― even if I don't always agree with everything."

One of his favorite stories was filed in 2009 on the Canada Ball Hockey Korea, in which he also participated.

"My Warthogs T-shirt still exists, although I have passed it on to my son, since it fits him better. I like the story because it shows the personal side of life for Canadians here, and several of the Canadians mentioned in the article remain personal contacts for me. Their life stories also reflect how Korea has impacted on individual Canadians, and, in turn, I know these Canadians have all, in their way, sought to improve how Canada is viewed in Korea. We're all ambassadors for our countries of origin."

There's another reason he can't forget the story. "They spelled my name wrong, but I won't blame the newspaper for that."

The ambassador congratulated The Korea Times on its 70th anniversary.

"This is also the 70th anniversary of the Korean War and we are always pleased to recognize the veterans of this war from Korea, Canada and the other U.N. Sending States."

The ambassador said he would like to see the paper more aggressively tackling issues related to marginalized groups in Korea in the future.

"Although I have seen a lot of progress in these areas over the assignments in Korea, over a period of a quarter century, these are very important objectives for Canada and for the Canadian Embassy to champion, and I welcome hearing local views."

skim@koreatimes.co.kr