On This Day in History: October 26-November 1

October 26, 2019

The Embassy of the Republic of Korea in Canada and the Canadian Armed Forces co-hosted the annual Imjin Hockey Classic at TD Place Arena in Ottawa, renewing an inspiring cultural and military tradition. The game commemorates Canadian troops from the Princess Patricia's Canadian Light Infantry and the Royal 22e Régiment who played ice hockey on the frozen Imjin River during the Korean War in the winter of 1952. By bringing together active military personnel, veterans, and diplomats, the late-autumn contest underscored how battlefield camaraderie has transformed into an enduring bond of friendship between the two societies.

October 27, 1989

Canada and the Republic of Korea formalized bilateral civil aviation arrangements that established terms for non-stop direct passenger air services connecting Seoul and Toronto, effective October 27, 1989. Following the 1988 Seoul Summer Olympics, surging bilateral business ties, tourism, and Korean immigration to Ontario made direct transpacific flight links an urgent diplomatic and economic necessity. The air framework laid the physical foundation for millions of diaspora visits, student exchanges, and expanded commercial traffic in the decades that followed.

October 28, 1953

Sergeant Thomas George "Tommy" Prince, Canada's most decorated Indigenous war hero and veteran of the 2nd Battalion, Princess Patricia's Canadian Light Infantry (2 PPCLI), received his honorable discharge from the Canadian Army following the conclusion of the Korean War. Having served two demanding combat tours in Korea and taken part in critical actions such as the Battle of Kapyong, Prince exemplified the courage and quiet sacrifice of Canadian soldiers who defended South Korea's sovereignty. His post-armistice transition back to civilian life highlighted the profound human bonds and enduring military legacy uniting both nations.

October 29, 2014

The Canadian House of Commons passed Bill C-41, the Canada-Korea Economic Growth and Prosperity Act, at third and final reading, clearing the decisive domestic legislative hurdle for the Canada-Korea Free Trade Agreement (CKFTA). As Canada's first bilateral free trade pact in the Asia-Pacific region, the legislation paved the way for royal assent and the elimination of tariffs across more than 97 percent of bilateral merchandise trade. The parliamentary passage reflected broad bipartisan consensus in Ottawa on anchoring Canada's Pacific economic pivot in a high-standard partnership with Seoul.

October 31, 2023

The Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) and South Korea's Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs signed the Canada–South Korea Organic Equivalency Arrangement (CSKOEA), taking effect on November 1, 2023. The agreement recognized each country's certified organic standards for processed foods as mutually equivalent, removing redundant inspection and testing costs for agri-food exporters. This regulatory alignment deepened consumer goods trade under the CKFTA, giving Canadian organic producers seamless market access in Asia while offering Korean consumers trusted sustainable food choices.

November 1, 2024

Canadian Foreign Minister Mélanie Joly and Defence Minister Bill Blair met in Ottawa with Korean Foreign Minister Cho Tae-yul and Defence Minister Kim Yong-hyun for the inaugural Canada-ROK Foreign and Defence (2+2) Ministerial Meeting. The historic talks institutionalized strategic consultations under the two countries' Comprehensive Strategic Partnership Action Plan, issuing a resolute joint statement condemning illicit DPRK-Russia military alignment. The meeting also expanded cooperation in defense procurement, intelligence sharing, and regional maritime security across the Indo-Pacific.