ATHENS — The exceptional level of bilateral relations between Greece and South Korea was emphasised in a greeting addressed by Deputy Foreign Minister Κostas Fragogiannis during a ceremony to celebrate the 60th anniversary since the two countries established diplomatic relations.

The special ceremony took place Wednesday at the foreign ministry, in the presence of the Ambassador of the Republic of Korea to Greece, S. Lim.

Diplomatic relations between Greece and South Korea date back to April 1961. The Korean embassy in Athens was established in 1973. The bond of friendship and trust, created by Greece's participation in the Korean War, between the two countries is constantly deepening year by year. In 1950, Greece sent an expedition of 10,581 men with seven transport aircraft to defend the freedom and democracy of Korea, although the two countries had no diplomatic relations, with 186 men killed on the battlefield and 610 wounded.

"The relations of deep friendship and cooperation that unite Greece and the Republic of Korea were sealed forever during the Korean War, with the heroism and sacrifice of the fighters of the Greek Expeditionary Force," the foreign ministry said in a statement.

In his greeting, Fragogiannis stressed that since the establishment of diplomatic relations until the present, bilateral relations between Greece and South Korea have grown impressively in all areas. Another important factor is the contribution of the Greek shipping community to the Korean economy with the ships built by Greek shipping companies in South Korean shipyards, he said.