Civilization and culture have continued into the 21st century, either deeply seeping into each other or colliding with each other
LEE YEON-SIL (Cherry), Korea
About 30 years ago, El-Sisi, the current Egyptian president, went to study at the Royal Army Staff College in England. He was an excellent officer who graduated from the Egyptian Military Academy. At that time, Major Kang Woong-sik, a member of the 37th Military Academy, also went to England for training. The two went to study at the Staff College together in a used car. His wife and children were close to him like family. They returned to their respective countries and lived hard. As 20 years passed, as fate would have it, officer El-Sisi became the president of Egypt.
The overseas market development Korean team and Mr. Kang Woong-sik Chairman of the Korea-Egypt Development Association (KEDA) were waiting at the Abu Dhabi International Airport in the UAE, which is made up of seven autonomous countries, at this time. I flew for 10 hours from Incheon Airport, famous as the world’s best airport, to go to Cairo, Egypt. You must wait at least 3 hours before transferring. The road to Egypt, the land that gave birth to the greatest civilization in history, is long but full of excitement.
Egypt is a large country with a large area and a population of over 100 million people. In order to interact with Korea, which has a population of 50 million, direct flights are absolutely necessary. You must transfer in Abu Dhabi, UAE, which is a transportation hub in the Middle East, or in another country. If a direct flight were to be opened, the distance would be 9 and a half hours. We look forward to opening as soon as possible.
It’s a new feeling to see the Mesopotamian civilization nearby. I looked down from 10,000 feet over China and the Indus Valley Civilization, the three countries that created the four major civilizations of mankind
On our way to Abu Dhabi, we flew over the vast Chinese continent and the skies over present-day Islamabad, Pakistan, the birthplace of the Indus Civilization. Iraq is close to the UAE. It’s a new feeling to see the Mesopotamian civilization nearby. I looked down from 10,000 feet over China and the Indus Valley Civilization, the three countries that created the four major civilizations of mankind. Egyptian civilization will soon be encountered on earth. The boarding gates at Abu Dhabi Airport are a bit confusing. For first-time visitors, it would be a good idea to keep this in mind. Even numbers are 22, 24, 26, odd numbers are 23, 25, 27, and so on. Being in the Middle East feels real in many ways. At the airport, camel figures and women wearing chadors stand out. When I go to the bathroom, I always see Udo (Islamic flush) It is installed.
A few hours later we arrive at Cairo International Airport. The first thing on the itinerary is to visit the pyramids. Egypt is a country that is overwhelming just by looking at the pyramids, one of the Seven Wonders of the World, and the buildings standing tall in the huge desert. I once saw a mummy at the Louvre Museum in France. Just looking at the linen, which has been scientifically designed from head to toe, is amazing. You can clearly guess the level of technology and culture of Egyptian civilization at that time.
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East and West have interacted for thousands of years. Through the land Silk Road and maritime trade routes, Egypt has had a tremendous impact on human life, both past and present. It is also very important geopolitically. Egypt is the country with the Suez Canal, which connects the Middle East, Africa, and Europe. The Nile River and the Suez Canal, which flow for over 6,000 km from its source in Uganda through several countries, are a blessing and great gift to Egypt.
Civilization and culture have continued into the 21st century, either deeply seeping into each other or colliding with each other. Among the countries that have been influenced by countries that have long had a splendid civilization, Korea succeeded in industrializing beyond the mid-20th century. Egypt, the eldest of 55 countries on the huge African continent, is being reborn in the 21st century. Egyptian President El-Sisi highly evaluates Korea’s economic development model and is actively cooperating with Korea.
The world is depressed these days. Due to the war between Russia and Ukraine and the conflict between Israel and Palestine, prices have risen significantly and the world situation is unstable. Egypt is also facing various challenges. Even if we are going through difficulties now, will it be more difficult than the Republic of Korea, which was the second poorest country on earth after the Korean War? Egypt is not just a country. It was a superpower with a brilliant history and culture. At the age of 21, I will definitely soar again like Phoenix, the phoenix of the desert. Egypt and Korea are moving together, so how thankful are they for each other?
Published under the International Cooperation Protocol with Middle East Business | Life Magazine Abu Dhabi
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