Do you know who has served as the bridge between Korea and Serbia for more than 10 years?
[Chungraon = Associate Editor-in-Chief Dongseop David Yeo, International Communication Team Member Jiyun Shim, International Communication Team Leader (Suwan News = Reporter) Si Young Yoon] Saesol Park, a former the Embassy of Serbia in Seoul. He is now taking. Through a written interview, we spoke with him about his experiences in Serbia and asked for his advice for young people interested secretary at the Embassy of Serbia in Seoul, is now embarking on a new chapter by opening the Arirang Center in Belgrade, Serbia. In a written interview, he shared his experiences of living and Serbia working in Serbia, along with advice for young people hoping to pursue careers in international exchange.
Q. What led you to start working at the Embassy of the Republic of Korea in Serbia, and what are some important tasks you handle?
A. My name is Saesol Park, and I work to bridge Korea and Serbia. Working in translating and education naturally led me to a position that links the two countries, supporting the ambassador at the embassy while operating a school-visiting program for Korean students.
Q. What led you to develop an interest in diplomacy and international relations?
A. “There’s something I realized while learning languages and working as a translator. Before diplomacy and international relations are things between nations, they are a way of connection between people. The change I felt when people who couldn’t communicate with each other shifted toward understanding through diplomacy and relations led to my realization that I wanted to live as someone who connected these two people.”
Q. Why did you challenge yourself with opening the Arirang center after finishing your embassy work?
A. Instead of remaining at my given position, I wanted to create something long-lasting in Serbia. I learned the inner workings of diplomacy through my work at the embassy, and this experience was key to creating something new here.
Q. How did you first make a connection with Serbia?
A. When I was choosing my major at Hankuk University of Foreign Studies, I was keen to learn a unique language that not everyone knew about, and that led me to Serbian. Serbia’s complicated history and various cultures/religions attracted me to study it. The country I only saw in books became a part of my life.
Q. What is a cultural aspect of Serbia you want to introduce?
A. The most major aspect is ‘warmth.’ Serbians offer coffee and meals to people they have never met before, and they treat you like family. I also wanted to introduce Užice, a town where you can experience true relaxation, along with the point that Serbia is a country of poems and songs.
Q. What are some goals and difficulties behind the Arirang Center Project?
A. “Attention grew thanks to K-content, but the center was opened for more detailed learning of Korean culture. It was difficult establishing something so new in a foreign country, but 10 years of experience and local connections were a huge help. Instead of finding excuses, we looked for ways around problems, and our main objective is to create a center for Korean education that can function independently.”
Q. What is the perceived influence of K-Content, and what should Korea do to be able to compete?
A. 10 years ago we were only a faraway country, but K-content has grown so much that many people greet me in Korean now. To shift this increasing Korean popularity from a temporary trend to a lasting relationship, it is important that instead of being one-sided, we accept their culture and language too.
Q. What are things teenagers dreaming of international relations and diplomacy should be competent in?
A. Languages are important, but the best tools are curiosity and being a good listener. Also, though results may not be immediate, perseverance in whatever you do is a stronger asset than any other qualification.
Q. Lastly, what would you like to say to teenagers hesitating to challenge themselves?
A. I too primarily believed that the safe route is the best, but persisting with what you enjoy leads to a path. It might feel like the future is uncertain right now, but follow your dreams. It would be great if you developed a bit of curiosity for Serbia after reading this article, and thank you for reading. “Hvala!”
We sincerely support former Secretary Saesol Park in his efforts to build stronger ties between South Korea and Serbia. We hope this interview inspires young people who are curious about Serbia to take their first step into the wider world.
Korean version of this article: https://www.swn.kr/2026/06/06/%EC%88%98%EC%99%84%EB%89%B4%EC%8A%A4x%EC%B2%AD%EB%9D%BC%EC%98%A8-%ED%95%9C%EA%B5%AD%EA%B3%BC-%EC%84%B8%EB%A5%B4%EB%B9%84%EC%95%84%EB%A5%BC-%EC%9E%87%EB%8A%94-%EC%B2%AD%EB%85%84%EC%9D%84-%EC%86%8C/
/Associate Editor-in-Chief Dongseop David Yeo, International Communication Team Member Jiyun Shim, International Communication Team Leader (Suwan News Reporter) Si Young Yoon
