The Kurdish Globe
Korea's cultural presence in Erbil continues to enrich Kurdish culture
A Korean businessman opens a Korean restaurant serving Korean and Kurdish food in downtown Erbil city.
Kobang means "guesthouse" in Korean. Kobang, a new restaurant in Erbil, is designed and decorated according to Korean tradition. In addition to the main dining room, there are several private rooms, or quiet rooms, where guests can dine comfortably and in silence.
The restaurant's walls are covered by well-known Korean actors like Dae Jang Guma and Hayn Jwan Yo. These actors are also are very famous in Kurdistan, since Korean dramas are widely shown on Kurdish TV because of South Korean troops in the region.
In August 2004, South Korea deployed more than 4,000 soldiers to Erbil city as part of an influx of multinational forces. South Korean troops left Iraq in December 2008.
Kobang owner Kim Ki Seon used to run a restaurant inside the Korean military base in Erbil, which was also known as the Zaytun Camp. When the Korean military was in Kurdistan, Seon thought about one day opening a Korean restaurant outside of the base in Erbil city.
Fuad Aziz Qadir, a Kurdish worker at Kobang, also worked in the restaurant in the Korean military base for five years. "When we were inside the base, Kurds who worked with the Korean military as well as guests and delegations always asked Mr. Seon why he didn't open a Korean restaurant in the city," said Qadir. "Local people liked the Korean food very much; we discussed opening a Korean restaurant in Erbil city many times with Mr. Seon," said Qadir.
"The Kurdish Globe" visited Kobang on its second day of being open for business. According to Qadir, most customers who had visited were Kurdish and some foreigners; he said most of Kurds asked for Korean rather than Kurdish food.
Kobang's staff is Kurdish, Korean, and Nepalese. The Korean foods include Bulgoki, Kimchi, and Tukboggi, as well as Kurdish and international fast food.
Kim Nam-Seon, business advisor and Seon's assistant, is also Kobang's owner. He pointed out that business for Korea is lucrative for Koreans. And Korean technology manufacturing companies such as LG and Samsung, along with Korean carmaker companies like Hyundai and KIA, enjoy an excellent market in the region, said Seon.
The Korean National Oil Company (KNOC) is currently exploring and drilling in Bazyan area in Suleimaniya province, and five Korean construction companies currently are working in the Kurdistan, noted Seon. "Now we are planning to open a permanent exhibition trade center in downtown Erbil city, selling and exhibiting only Korean made goods."
Seon speaks good Arabic as he studied in Saudi Arabia and worked as an advisor and interpreter for the Korean military when they were based in Kurdistan Region. He stated: "Korea has a very good reputation in Kurdistan Region. The Korean troops were different from other multinational forces in Iraq; the other multinational forces only gave donations to Iraqis. But in Kurdistan Region, we taught people how to catch fish instead of just giving them fish. Korean troops also respected the culture of Kurdish society."
According to Seon, it was easy for Koreans to understand the Kurdish culture, "The Kurdish customs are similar to the Koreans; Kurds respect elders, guests, and strangers; and just like Korea, the family connection is very strong."
Behind Seon--inside the restaurant--was a carpet on the wall that read, in the Korean language, "Zaytun," a Kurdish and Arabic word for olive, and the name of the Korean military base in Erbil city.
"Zaytun is front and center in our relations with Kurdistan Region, and we will continue to strengthen our relations with Kurds through business, diplomacy, and the Kurdish-Korean Friendship Organization, which has only recently been established," concluded Seon.
