We have Korean Embassy in Washington, D.C., which communicates
with our federal counterpart of the
U.S. government including the U.S.
Department of State. The Embassy
deals with major political and diplomatic tasks such as negotiating with
the U.S. legislature on bilateral issues between Korea and the U.S.
The Consulate General office on the
other hand deals with consular issues,
including visas and passports, certification, as well as trade promotion and
cultural exchange. The Consulate
office is also entrusted with the responsibility of looking after the welfare of Korean nationals in the U.S.
In summary, we deal with consular
issues, economic issues, and cultural
issues. We are also making an effort
to protect the Korean nationals in the
United States and at the same time
we are very much interested in academic exchange between Korea and
the United States.
Katia: What are some past,
present, and future goals for
Korea’s relationship with Houston?
Katia: What are some big
issues facing Korea today?
Mr. Baik: I think the most serious
Mr. Baik: Houston is now pursu- issue is unemployment. Recently,
ing a very open-minded policy to- the American credit rating company
wards foreign countries. Houston upgraded Korea’s credit rating to
is now orienting to become one of AA while credit ratings of most of
the biggest trade investment cities in the countries are now being downthe U.S., so maybe sooner or later graded. It is evident that Korea is
Houston will be #3 in the U.S. after seen as a comparatively more stable
New York and Los Angeles. I wel- economy. However, internally we
come that idea. We have more than are experiencing a very high level
30-40 Korean companies represented of unemployment. After graduatin Houston, including ship building ing from universities, our younger
and oil companies, and also IT com- generation is experiencing hardship
panies, so I am proud that we have finding proper jobs. I think this is
many Korean companies who are a common global issue except in
representing the modern and very the United States, as most European
lucrative businesses here in Houston. countries also have a serious unemWe have many aspects to further our ployment problem.
relationship with Houston. The former Mayor of Houston visited Korea The other most challenging issue
and I have also invited the present we face is security, as North Korea is
continuing to develop nuclear weapMayor Turner to visit.
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