SEOUL, December 07 (AJP) - SingCham Korea brought together about 150 guests on December 5 for its year-end celebration, "The Golden Ticket," held at Floating Island's Vista Hall in Seoul. The event gathered members of the Singaporean community, South Korean partners, business leaders, and diplomats to mark the close of the year and the 50th anniversary of diplomatic relations between Singapore and South Korea.
The evening opened with welcome remarks from SingCham Korea CEO Justin Yong, who highlighted the presence of Singapore's Ambassador to South Korea, Wong Kaijun. "We are deeply honored to have His Excellency Ambassador Wong Kaijun," Yong said, noting the ambassador's role since arriving earlier in the year. He announced that Wong had accepted SingCham's invitation to continue serving as its honorary patron. "We look forward to working closely with you and the embassy," he said.
Yong reflected on the significance of 2025, describing it as "fifty great and golden years of friendship and collaboration" between the two countries. He pointed to last month's meeting between Singapore Prime Minister Lawrence Wong and South Korean President Lee Jae-myung at the APEC Summit, where both sides elevated bilateral ties to a strategic partnership built on five pillars. "This new chapter is going to open exciting opportunities for innovation, trade, talent exchange and deeper business ties," Yong said.
He also described SingCham Korea's growth over recent years. "We did not start with big numbers, we didn't start with big resources," he said. "But we shared the same spirit that has shaped the Singapore–Korea partnership — the spirit to connect, to build and to grow." Yong thanked SingCham's board members, volunteers, and sponsors for supporting the organization's activities.
Singapore's Ambassador Eric Teo followed with remarks linking the event's theme to the idea of opportunity. "When I think of a 'golden ticket,' I recall a book that I used to read as a child," he said, referring to "Charlie and the Chocolate Factory." He noted that the story's theme of opportunity and adventure paralleled the business community's experiences in Korea. "Tonight, I believe that SingCham Korea is also celebrating something similar — the opportunities that have brought all of you together."
Teo underscored the deepening ties between Singapore and South Korea. "It has been fifty great and golden years of friendship and collaboration," he said. He noted that the Singapore–Korea Free Trade Agreement, South Korea's first FTA with an Asian country, laid the foundation for today's economic cooperation. "In the last five years Singapore's investments in the ROK have doubled, while the ROK's investments in Singapore have grown by 70 percent," he said.
The ambassador also emphasized the importance of people-to-people exchanges. "These exchanges lay a very firm foundation for all the different areas of cooperation," he said, adding that SingCham Korea "serves as a bridge between businesses in Korea and Singapore, fostering partnerships, opening doors and creating new possibilities."
Guests from Singapore, South Korea and other countries joined the celebration, which featured performances, networking sessions and a program recognizing the contributions of the chamber's volunteers and partners.
As the evening concluded, Teo encouraged attendees to carry the night's theme into the coming year. "Let us hold on to the story of the golden ticket," he said. "May we see the opportunities before us, enjoy the adventures together, and see our dreams come true."
reporter
Park Sae-jin
swatchsjp@ajunews.com
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