TenerifeGran CanariaLa PalmaLa GomeraEl HierroLanzaroteFuerteventuraÁrea Metropolitana de Santa Cruz - La LagunaAcentejoValle de La OrotavaIcodDauteSuroeste de TenerifeAbonaValle de GüímarÁrea Metropolitana de Las PalmasCentro Norte de Gran CanariaNoroeste de Gran CanariaOeste de Gran CanariaSuroeste de Gran CanariaSureste de Gran CanariaLa Palma CapitalinaValle de AridaneNoroeste de La PalmaNoreste de La PalmaLa Gomera NorteLa Gomera SurEl Hierro (comarca)Lanzarote NorteLanzarote EsteLanzarote SuroesteFuerteventura NorteFuerteventura CentroFuerteventura SurTenerifeGran CanariaLa PalmaLa GomeraEl HierroLanzaroteFuerteventuraÁrea Metropolitana de Santa Cruz - La LagunaAcentejoValle de La OrotavaIcodDauteSuroeste de TenerifeAbonaValle de GüímarÁrea Metropolitana de Las PalmasCentro Norte de Gran CanariaNoroeste de Gran CanariaOeste de Gran CanariaSuroeste de Gran CanariaSureste de Gran CanariaLa Palma CapitalinaValle de AridaneNoroeste de La PalmaNoreste de La PalmaLa Gomera NorteLa Gomera SurEl Hierro (comarca)Lanzarote NorteLanzarote EsteLanzarote SuroesteFuerteventura NorteFuerteventura CentroFuerteventura Sur
ES|EN

La Voz Canaria

Las Palmas de Gran Canaria Celebrates Six Decades of Ties with South Korea

The city commemorates the arrival of the first Korean vessel in 1966, marking the beginning of a deep cultural and economic relationship.

Generic image of a cultural festival in a coastal city, with people and food stalls.
IA

Generic image of a cultural festival in a coastal city, with people and food stalls.

Las Palmas de Gran Canaria is commemorating six decades of close relations with South Korea, initiated by the arrival of the first Korean ship in 1966, a milestone that has forged a vibrant community and a lasting cultural and economic connection.

The mayor of Las Palmas de Gran Canaria has highlighted the significant contribution of the Korean community to the city's development. This celebration marks the 60th anniversary of the vessel Ganghwa nº601's arrival at the Port of La Luz, an event that laid the foundation for a profound relationship.
During the inauguration of the 'Gran Fest', an event organized by the Consulate of the Republic of Korea, the city's highest authority emphasized that the ship's arrival in 1966 symbolized the beginning of a bond based on coexistence, understanding, and mutual recognition. She stressed that this relationship extends beyond a mere geographical or economic presence, representing a human story of a community that, initially linked to fishing, made the city its home.
“

"We are not just talking about a geographical presence, nor an economic relationship born under the shelter of the sea. We are talking about a human history; of a community that arrived linked to fishing activity and that, over time, turned this city into home, memory, and belonging."

the mayor of Las Palmas de Gran Canaria
The mayor also noted how the presence of the Korean fleet has strengthened the community in various areas, including economic, educational, social, and cultural spheres. She affirmed that Las Palmas de Gran Canaria and Korea have built a history of understanding, praising the Korean community's ability to maintain its roots while fully integrating into urban life.
An institutional visit to the Republic of Korea in 2025, at the invitation of the Korea Foundation, was recalled. The visit aimed to further strengthen economic, commercial, cultural, and institutional ties between both territories. This trip was described as a gesture of recognition and reciprocity towards a community that is an essential part of the living history of the Gran Canarian capital.
The 'Gran Fest 60th Anniversary' offered a diverse program that included gastronomic exhibitions, concerts, cultural activities, traditional workshops, K-Pop contests, and spaces dedicated to promoting Korean culture and the history of its community in the Canary Islands.

Related News