May 4, 2013

This was a highly significant day that dramatically reshaped the atmosphere and landscape of the Korean immigrant community in Canada, particularly in Toronto, Ontario. The Canadian government suddenly reopened the Federal Skilled Worker Program (FSWP)—which had been firmly shut for some time due to a backlog of applications—introducing completely new evaluation criteria. It stands as a highly symbolic and remarkable day that marked a qualitative leap forward in the people-to-people exchanges between the two nations.

May 5, 2025

On this day, it was widely reported that South Korea's leading defense companies officially proposed a massive $20 billion (over 20 trillion KRW) project to build and maintain state-of-the-art submarines to replace the Royal Canadian Navy's Victoria-class fleet. It is truly awe-inspiring to realize that South Korea—a nation that once relied on Canada's military support to defend its land—has now grown into a vital partner capable of bolstering Canada's national defense and security.

May 6, 1951

On this day, the main body of the Canadian Army's 25th Infantry Brigade safely arrived at the Port of Busan after a long voyage across the Pacific, marking the beginning of their full-scale participation in the Korean War. Leading this brigade and demonstrating exceptional leadership on fierce battlefields was Brigadier General John Meredith Rockingham (1911–1987). The noble sacrifices of Brigadier General Rockingham—a lasting hero in Canadian history—and the young Canadians who fought alongside him forged a profound psychological bond. It was this deep sense of solidarity that later gave Koreans the courage to immigrate and build new lives in Canada without fear.

May 10, 1948

On this day, the historic first general election was held to form the Constituent Assembly of the Republic of Korea. Serving as a member of the United Nations Temporary Commission on Korea (UNTCOK), Canada was one of the key nations that fairly monitored and steadfastly supported the electoral process. George Patterson, the Canadian representative at the time, delivered an official message of support and solidarity, stating, "We are highly satisfied with the results of the May 10 election by the Korean people, who yearn for a democratic government." It is widely believed that this milestone laid the strong foundation for the eventual establishment of official diplomatic relations between the two countries.