By UN Journal Belarus Correspondent Kim Sun-ah

Minsk, Belarus-- On October 29, 2025, an official meeting was held in the conference room of the Ministry of Sports and Tourism of the Republic of Belarus. Five officials, including Deputy Minister Oleg Andreychik, and a delegation from the Republic of Korea were present.

This meeting was a meaningful opportunity to discuss expanding tourism exchanges and cultural cooperation between Korea and Belarus.

In his welcoming remarks, Deputy Minister Andreychik introduced Belarus as "a treasure trove of culture and nature located in the heart of Europe." He explained, "Belarus borders Russia, Poland, the Baltic states, and Ukraine, and of its approximately 9 million inhabitants, 2 million live in the capital, Minsk."

He continued, "It boasts well-preserved ancient castles, including Mir Castle and Nesvizh Castle, both UNESCO World Heritage sites. Belovezhskaya Pushcha, the largest primeval forest in Europe, is a natural treasure, home to unique flora and fauna."

He said, "Belarus is a beautiful country with four distinct seasons and over 200,000 lakes and rivers. It also boasts a rich cultural heritage and artistic traditions. It has numerous museums and theaters, and a vibrant performing arts scene, including theater and ballet."

He added, "Last year alone, over 20 million tourists from 174 countries visited Belarus. We hope many Korean tourists will visit Belarus, and we will always warmly welcome them."

Kim Jong-bak, CEO of Sejoong Travel, expressed his sincere gratitude for Belarus' warm hospitality. "After visiting Belarus myself, I was impressed by its clean, peaceful, and safe country."

He also said, "The Belarusian people are friendly and hard-working, and seem to have a strong emotional connection with Koreans." He added, "The Mir Castle and Nesvizh Castle, which I visited yesterday, are perfectly preserved, and I felt their cultural value was truly remarkable."

Deputy Minister Andreychik responded, "Korean culture, including K-pop, has recently become very popular among the younger generation in Belarus. Exchanges through culture and the arts are crucial for further developing bilateral relations."

He continued, "I hope that Korea and Belarus will continue to cooperate more closely not only in tourism but also in the fields of art, sports, and culture."

This meeting marked the beginning of a new chapter in cooperation between the two countries through culture and tourism, based on mutual respect and understanding. The Belarusian Sports and Tourism Ministry plans to expand cooperation with Korea in the future, promoting and fostering mutual development through private diplomacy through art and tourism.

The delegation included Lee Jon-young, Chairman of the Diplomacy Journal and Chairman of the World Peace Art Exhibition Organizing Committee; Kim Jong-bak, Vice Chairman of the Diplomacy Journal (CEO of Sejoong Travel); Kim Dong-hyun, Director of the General Planning Office of the Diplomacy Journal; Choi Dong-ho, Director of the Special Features Bureau of the Diplomacy Journal; Kim Sun-ah, Correspondent for the Diplomacy Journal; Lee Mi-hyung, Professor of K-Minhwa (Folk Painting) at Myongji University; Choi Byung-hwan, Professor at Myongji University; and Kang Seok-won, CEO of KS Gallery.