History of diplomatic relations

The first friendship, commercial and navigation treat signed between the Reign of Italy and the Republic of Korea dates back to June 26 1884.

Following is the complete list of the Italy H.OM’s in the Republic of Korea.

. Ferdinando De Luca, Extraordinary Envoy and Plenipotentiary Minister with L.C. 5
  April 1885;
. Alberto Pansa, Extraordinary Envoy and Plenipotentiary Minister with L.C. 2 February
  1890;
. Alessandro Bardi, Extraordinary Envoy and Plenipotentiary Minister with L.C. 2
  February 1894;
. Renato De Martino, Extraordinary Envoy and Plenipotentiary Minister with L.C. 6
  March 1898;
. Giuseppe Salvago Raggi, Resident Minister with L.C. 27 april 1899;
. Giuseppe Salvago Raggi, Extraordinary Envoy and Plenipotentiary Minister with L.C.
  11 April 1901;
. Giovanni Gallina, Extraordinary Envoy and Plenipotentiary Minister with L.C. 19
  December 1901;
. Attilio Monaco, with Licence of General Consular and Credential of Resident Minister
  28 July 1902;
. Giuseppe Brigidi, Chargé d’Affaires 23 August 1957;
. Giorgio Spalazzi, Ambassador with L.C. 30 June 1959;
. Gabriele Paresce, Ambassador with L.C. 26 October 1961
. Mario Filo della Torre Santa Susanna, Ambassador with L.C. 14 August 1966;
. Giuliano Bertolucci, Ambassador with L.C. 26 October 1961;
. Mario Crema, Ambassador with L.C. 2 August 1976;
. Emanuele Costa, Ambassador with L.C. 13 September 1981;
. Graziella Simbolotti, Ambassador with L.C. 20 September 1985;
. Dino Volpicelli, chargé d’affaires with letters 2 April 1990;
. Dino Volpicelli, Ambassador with L.C. 5 February 1991;
. Guido Martini, Ambassador with L.C. 20 January 1994;
. Carlo Trezza, Ambassador with L.C. 30 January 1998;
. Francesco Rausi, Ambassador with L.C. 8 February 2002;
. Massimo Andrea Leggeri, Ambassador with L.C. 1 August 2006;

Among all foreign Nations Italy is one of the first that started diplomatic relations with the Republic of Korea.

The historical and political vicissitudes of the Korean peninsula have characterized in a discontinuous way with our presence in this country. This happened particularly between 1910-1945, during the Japanese occupation. Aside of this historical moment, from 1880 until 1910, the Italian presence in Korea has been significant and eventful. The last Italian consul, Luigi Casati, died in 1909 in Seoul (where his grave is located). Among the first presence of Consular Attaches, also italian military take on and one of them was a Navy Lieutenant Ugo Francesetti di Malgrà, who received full honors from the whole international community when he passed away during his duty in Seoul.
 
After World War II many warlike events characterized the Korea. In 1953 after a long and painful conflict the peninsula was divided in two states: North Korea with Pyongyang as capital and South Korea with Seoul as capital. This Korean war, which had great influence the international presence, Italy contributed in helping the population of South Korea by sending a medical contingent of which we can still see signs in the “War Memorial of Korea” in Seoul. Four years after the end of the war in Italy reopened the diplomatic representative relations in Korea with a Legation and after two years in 1959 became Embassy.

The Italian Honorary Consulate in Busan represents also an greater impulse for the consolidation of the italian’s presence in this geographical area.

 

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