Embassy of the Republic of Côte d’Ivoire 🇨🇮
Review by Sean Kim
Location: Booyoung Taepyeong Building, 19th Floor
On a fine afternoon on March 15th, Yoonwoo and I conducted our first embassy meeting for the Korea Chapter of Consulate Review. While we were both surprisingly more nervous than expected, upon our arrival at the bustling Booyoung Taepyeong Building and a quick navigation through security protocols, we ended up in the conference room, where we observed an administrative staff member meticulously arrange national symbols and maps.
After a brief wait, we were honored by the presence of Minister-Counsellor Philippe Koffi Malan and a talented translator to help bridge our linguistic divides, as Counsellor Malan only speaks French and we primarily speak English.
Côte d’Ivoire, informally known as the Ivory Coast, boasts a population of 30 million, residing in a region of peace despite its diverse ethnic tapestry, including groups such as the Jankin, Cruex, and Mandi. This unity is largely attributed to the common use of French, a vestige of colonial times, fostering communication and cultural cohesion.
While the Ivorian community in Korea may only be 100 strong, the Côte d’Ivoire is an invaluable ally to Korea. Côte d’Ivoire is the first African country to have established diplomatic ties with South Korea. These early economic and cultural exchanges have led to trade partnerships involving Ivorian exports like cocoa and coffee.
The consulate’s mission is to further these ties through student exchange programs for Ivorian students in Korea and the facilitation of trade relations that align with the Ivorian President’s developmental roadmap.
Minister Counsellor Malan, a seasoned diplomat with a rich history of international service, also mentioned that he wanted to be a diplomat because of the prestige and income that came with the job. In fact, through his job, he has been able to give his four children a great education.
We thank Counsellor Malan for the wonderful and enriching interview. We look forward to visiting and learning more about the Embassy of Côte d’Ivoire in the future!
