Colin James Crooks, British Ambassador to Korea, became an honorary resident of Jung-gu, Seoul.

Jung-gu announced on the 29th that it had awarded an honorary resident certificate to British Ambassador to Korea Colin Crooks on the 28th.

Jung-gu said it awarded an honorary resident certificate to Ambassador Colin Crooks to thank the British Embassy in Korea for opening its interior and communicating with the local community during the Jeongdong Night Tour, the district's representative festival.

The British Embassy in Korea opened its official residence to welcome citizens during the ‘Jeongdong Night Tour’ festival held in the fall of last year and spring of this year. In the resident pre-tour program ‘Miri Jeongdong Night Tour’ held last May, Ambassador Colin Crooks personally welcomed residents and guided them through the interior of the ambassador’s residence.

At the award ceremony, Ambassador Colin Crooks said, “It is an honor to become an honorary resident of Jung-gu,” and “I will cherish the honorary resident plaque and certificate for a long time.”

The British Embassy in Korea, built in 1890 when the foundation stone was laid, is the only Western country that has diplomatic relations with Joseon that still uses the same building as a diplomatic mission.

Ambassador Colin Crooks developed ties with Korea while working as a secretary at the British Embassy in Korea from 1995 to 1999. Since then, he has served in Indonesia, China, and North Korea, and is serving as British Ambassador to Korea again from 2022. He is the only person to have served as ambassador to both South and North Korea.

Jung-gu Mayor Kim Gil-seong said, “I am happy to welcome Ambassador Crooks, who communicated with Jung-gu residents at the Jeongdong Night Festival, as an honorary resident,” and added, “We will continue to create opportunities for exchange so that we can share each other’s cultures and develop deep friendships.”