Networking event held in Songdo to coincide with Flanders economic delegation's visit to Korea

Ghent University Global Campus and MarineUGent Korea seen as key innovation bridgeheads between the two countries

Attendees raise a toast at the South Korea-Belgium 125th anniversary diplomatic networking event held Wednesday at Gyeongwonjae in Songdo, Incheon. [Ghent University Global Campus]
Attendees raise a toast at the South Korea-Belgium 125th anniversary diplomatic networking event held Wednesday at Gyeongwonjae in Songdo, Incheon. [Ghent University Global Campus]

South Korea and Belgium are significantly deepening cooperation as forward-looking economic partners across biotech, advanced science and education, marking 125 years of diplomatic relations.

The Flemish government's Department of Foreign Affairs, Flanders Investment and Trade, and Ghent University Global Campus jointly hosted a networking event Wednesday at Gyeongwonjae in Songdo, Incheon, to mark the 125th anniversary of South Korea-Belgium diplomatic ties.

Held to coincide with the visit of a Flemish economic delegation to South Korea, the event drew about 120 key figures from industry, academia, research and government of both countries. They included Belgian Ambassador to Korea Bruno Janssen, Ghent University President Petra De Sutter and Ghent University Global Campus President Han Tae-joon, who gathered to explore avenues for future cooperation.

The two countries first forged ties through a treaty of amity and commerce in 1901, and have since maintained a historically close relationship — Belgium extended early recognition to the South Korean government shortly after its establishment and dispatched a combat unit of some 3,500 troops during the 1950-53 Korean War.

That relationship has recently been expanding rapidly into advanced industry and research cooperation centered on Songdo, Incheon.

Ghent University Global Campus, which opened in Songdo International City in 2014, and MarineUGent Korea, a marine biotech research institute established in 2024, are regarded as central hubs for cutting-edge science and technology exchange between the two countries and as bridgeheads for business entry.

During the delegation's visit, the Flemish economic mission toured research facilities at Ghent University Global Campus, then called on a series of global pharmaceutical and biotech companies in Songdo and other major domestic biotech clusters to explore concrete business cooperation opportunities.

At the event, participants expressed optimism about generating synergies between the two countries through education and research and development.

"The friendship built over 125 years is now evolving into a deep convergence in education and advanced research," Ghent University President De Sutter said. "We will continue to serve as a key partner driving growth in both countries' industries by nurturing globally innovative talent."

Ghent University Global Campus President Han said Belgium serves as "a critical logistics and R&D hub through which Korean companies pass when expanding into the European market," adding that he hopes industry-academia-research exchanges centered on Songdo will translate into tangible economic benefits for both countries.


gilbert@heraldcorp.com