Our Kid Reporter in South Korea Talks With the British Ambassador

Josephine with Colin Crooks, the British Ambassador to South Korea

In May 2020, Colin Crooks was serving as the British Ambassador to North Korea. His social media posts about the small country in East Asia became immensely popular.

Crooks was born in Northern Ireland, a part of the United Kingdom (UK). With his observations, he shed light on North Korea, which has been a dictatorship for several decades. During the coronavirus pandemic, the country was completely closed off from the world. Embassies there closed, and Crooks had to leave his post. 

Since 2022, Crooks has served as the British Ambassador to South Korea, where I live. I recently spoke with him at the British Embassy in Seoul, the capital of South Korea. South Korea shares a peninsula with North Korea, a country that is considered a global threat to world peace.

Crooks talked about his love of British culture. He shared his admiration for the late Queen of England, Elizabeth II. Crooks planned the Queen’s visit to South Korea back in 1999.

Crooks also told me about the joys of sharing the fictional tales of Paddington Bear with young people. Paddington, he expained, "is a friendly bear who loves adventure and is very fond of marmalade [a type of jam made from citrus fruits] sandwiches.” 

Seoul, the capital of South Korea, is home to more than 9 million people. 

THE TIES BETWEEN THE UK AND KOREA

Crooks is fascinated by Korean culture. At a birthday celebration for Queen Elizabeth in 2022, he hosted members of Blackpink, a popular girl group in South Korea. 

When asked about the relationship between the UK and South Korea, Crooks spoke about the Korean War. In 1950, North Korea invaded South Korea, leading to a long struggle. The U.S., the UK, and other countries fought to “safeguard freedom on the Korean peninsula.” 

Today, Crooks said, Korean War veterans from the UK, many of whom are in their 90s, still visit the peninsula. “They see the prosperous, rich, freedom-loving country that South Korea has become,” Crooks said. “It's very touching.” 

Josephine signs the guest book at the British Embassy in Seoul, South Korea.

INCLUSIVITY AND CLIMATE CHANGE

During our interview, Crooks spoke about his belief in equality for women and the need to respect all cultures. “It’s important to promote inclusivity, unity, and understanding and respecting different cultures,” he said. “That helps leaders create inclusive communities.” 

Crooks encourages all young people to educate themselves “on global issues.” A top issue, he said, is climate change. According to scientists, the burning of fossil fuels such as coal and gas has accelerated the warming of the planet. This has led to an increased risk for droughts, flooding, rising sea levels, and increasingly severe storms.

“Climate, the planet, and nature are issues that have long been very important to us in the UK,” Crooks said.

When asked his advice for young people who may wish to pursue a career in diplomacy, Crooks said, “Stay curious, and keep asking questions. Never stop learning.”