Bridgehead to Africa 'Friendship Forged in Blood, Blossoming in Economy': Korea-Ethiopia Glocal Economic Forum and General Assembly Successfully Held

 

Chuncheon, Gangwon Special Self-Governing Province – The 'Friendship of Blood' forged between the Republic of Korea and Ethiopia during the 1950-1953 Korean War is evolving into a 21st-century 'Economic Alliance,' spanning over 70 years. At the heart of this historic transition stands Chuncheon City, Gangwon Special Self-Governing Province. The recent '2025 Korea-Ethiopia Glocal Economic Forum and General Assembly,' led by the EthiopiaVet Association and held in Chuncheon, is being evaluated as a watershed moment. It transformed the Korean society's historical duty of 'Reciprocity (報恩)' into a tangible, future-oriented framework of practical economic cooperation, moving beyond a mere commemorative event.

Transforming Historical Debt into Future Opportunity: The Declaration of the 'Economy of Reciprocity'

Ethiopia is a sublime blood ally that dispatched the 'Kangnew' (Kangnew) Battalion to aid the Republic of Korea during the Korean War, despite being one of the poorest nations at the time. They endured immense sacrifices, suffering 122 killed in action and 536 wounded, which served as the foundation for Korea's current growth into an economic powerhouse.

The Forum was launched precisely from this sense of historical responsibility. The core consensus reached was that the noblest way for Korean society to repay Ethiopia's sacrifice is by assisting their economic self-reliance and growth.

"The noblest reciprocity that the Republic of Korea, which Ethiopia bled to protect, can offer them is to help their economic self-reliance and growth." – Kim Jin-tae, Governor of Gangwon Special Self-Governing Province

The Korean government has already designated Ethiopia, along with Colombia and the Philippines, as a priority cooperation partner for ODA (Official Development Assistance) among the Korean War participating nations, actively pursuing projects to repay this debt of gratitude. The significance of this forum in Chuncheon lies in the fact that it converted this national-level reciprocity into a specific and concrete action plan: the establishment of a 'Glocal (Global + Local)' economic network at the civil and municipal government level. Chuncheon declared its role as the 'forward base' to elevate the blood alliance forged 60 years ago into a new dimension of 'economic cooperation for reciprocity,' securing a strategic bridgehead connecting the Republic of Korea and Africa.

MOU Signed by 5 Key Institutions: Activating the 'Engine of Execution' Beyond Symbolism

The most notable achievement of this forum was the multilateral Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) signed by five key institutions. This agreement, joining hands with the Embassy of Ethiopia in Korea, Gangwon Techno Park, the Chuncheon Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Good Elevator Co., Ltd., and the EthiopiaVet Association, focuses on generating tangible economic value rather than mere intentions of exchange.

The main cooperation details are as follows:

Eco-Friendly Energy Cooperation: Establishing a joint strategy for entering the eco-friendly industry, leveraging Ethiopia’s massive hydropower potential. Ethiopia is rich in water resources, often called the 'Water Tower of East Africa,' making this a crucial area of cooperation that can also contribute to Korea’s carbon neutrality and RE100 goals.
One-Stop Entry Support: Establishing a one-stop support system to facilitate the entry of companies within Gangwon Province into the Ethiopian market and operating programs to assist in utilizing local infrastructure.
Human Resources Linkage: Promoting training and employment linkage programs in Korea for outstanding Ethiopian talent, aiming to combine Ethiopia's young, abundant workforce with Korea’s advanced technology.
ODA-Linked Industrial Model: Developing joint technology R&D and industrial cooperation models linked with ODA to tangibly strengthen the foundation for Ethiopia’s economic self-reliance.
Through this agreement, the 'Chuncheon-led Glocal Economic Network,' which directly integrates the region-specific industrial capabilities of Chuncheon (such as IT, medical devices, and agricultural technology) into the African market, has been officially activated. This is hailed as opening a new horizon for municipality-led international economic cooperation models.

'Why Ethiopia?' Potential as an African Investment Hub

Ethiopia is more than just a historical symbol as a Korean War participating nation; it is rapidly emerging as the most dynamic and high-potential investment hub on the African continent. Data presented in the forum sessions clearly demonstrates this appeal.

Rapid Economic Growth: Driven by government reforms and efforts to attract Foreign Direct Investment (FDI), Ethiopia is recording the fastest growth among non-oil economies in sub-Saharan Africa. It is projected to achieve a high annual GDP growth rate of 8.1% in 2023.
Population and Labor Force: Its large population (the second largest in Africa) and young demographic offer a highly advantageous environment for establishing production bases for Korean manufacturing. Low average monthly labor costs maximize cost efficiency.
Diverse Industrial Opportunities: Ethiopia is a country with optimal opportunities for Korean corporate entry.

Agriculture: The globally renowned coffee industry accounts for over 26% of total exports, with ample room for cooperation in grains and floriculture.
Manufacturing and ICT: Light industry, textiles, and the ICT sector are promising, supported by the government's aggressive industrial complex development policies.
Energy/Mining: The eco-friendly energy sector based on abundant water resources and mineral resource development are also important targets for entry.
Ethiopia is, in essence, a 'Win-Win Partner' for Korean companies, serving as a bridgehead for African expansion where both historical reciprocity and economic benefits can be realized simultaneously.

Elevating the 'Reciprocity Project' through Cultural and Tourism Cooperation

Beyond economic cooperation, the forum emphasized the importance of cultural exchange. A hand-drip coffee tasting provided by the descendants of Ethiopian war veterans directly conveyed the deep aroma and quality of coffee—a major Ethiopian export and source of pride—to Korean participants, broadening cultural understanding.

Through its General Assembly, the EthiopiaVet Association announced concrete plans for the expansion of the 'Reciprocity Project' in 2025, broadening the scope of cooperation:

Expanding Cultural Exchange: Deepening cultural consensus between the two nations through hosting 'Traveling Small Concerts' within Gangwon Province, utilizing the budget for Ethiopia's traditional Meskel Festival.
Urban Regeneration and Tourism: Promoting the 'Ethiopia Road Hub & Coffee Street Development Project' in Chuncheon, a symbolic location, to revitalize the local economy and strengthen the symbolism of the blood alliance with Ethiopia.
Expanding ODA Development Cooperation: Significantly expanding ODA-type development cooperation projects in education, healthcare, and vocational training to tangibly enhance human resource development and the foundation for self-reliance in Ethiopia.
Through this event, the EthiopiaVet Association reiterated a powerful vision: "To establish Chuncheon as the practical hub city for Korea-Ethiopia economic cooperation and to develop it into the optimal forward base for Korean companies entering Africa."

The relationship between the two nations, forged by the noble sacrifice of the Korean War, has now opened a new chapter as an 'economic alliance.' Chuncheon, Gangwon Special Self-Governing Province, is transforming from a mere regional city into a strategic heartland of the Republic of Korea, extending its reach to the African continent. Chuncheon's 'Path of Reciprocity,' which elevates the friendship of blood into joint economic growth, is poised to become a new model case for international relations and local diplomacy.

Ethiopia's 'Kangnew' (Kangnew) Battalion Ethiopia was the only African nation to dispatch combat troops to the Korean War. They were dispatched under the name 'Kangnew,' which means 'to suppress the chaos' in Amharic (Ethiopian language). Under the direction of Emperor Haile Selassie, Ethiopia dispatched one infantry battalion and other support troops, arriving in Korea from May 1951 until April 1955, with a total of 6,037 personnel participating in 8 rotations.

The Kangnew Battalion fought bravely, primarily attached to the US 7th Infantry Division on the central-eastern front, including the Hwacheon area of Gangwon Province. Notably, they achieved victory in all major battles, including those near Chuncheon, earning them the moniker 'Myth of the Invincible' among the Allied forces. They fought dedicatedly to ensure all soldiers could return safely to Ethiopia after the war. Their noble sacrifice is the historical root of the 'Economy of Reciprocity' cooperation centered in Chuncheon today.