February 4, 1951

February 1951 was a time when the Korean War was incredibly fierce. During a period when the front lines were volatile due to the intervention of Chinese forces, the 2nd Battalion of Canada’s ‘Princess Patricia’s Canadian Light Infantry (PPCLI)’ was attached to the 27th British Commonwealth Brigade and stationed on the front lines. ‘Operation Thunderbolt’ was launched starting February 4th, and the Canadian forces played a major role. Furthermore, the Canadian troops during this time did not merely fight; they cared for starving Korean war orphans and shared their own rations with them, putting ‘humanity’ into practice.

February 1948

In early February 1948, a fierce debate took place at the UN regarding whether to hold an election solely in South Korea. At the time, Canada was a member of the ‘United Nations Temporary Commission on Korea (UNTCOK).’ George Patterson, the Canadian representative, acted on instructions from the Canadian government and took a very cautious stance, expressing concern that the UN’s authority could be damaged if a general election for both North and South Korea was impossible. Although the decision was ultimately made to hold a US-led election in the South alone, Canada’s diplomatic moves demonstrated how seriously they considered the Korean Peninsula issue from the perspectives of ‘procedural legitimacy’ and ‘peace.’ This became the foundation of trust that allowed Canada to become a staunch ally of Korea following the establishment of official diplomatic relations in 1963.

February 2015

With the Korea-Canada FTA entering into force on January 1, 2015, the first February following it was a time to fully realize that bilateral exchanges had completely transformed into an ‘economic partnership.’ Korean products began to appear at competitive prices in Toronto’s Korean grocery markets and at the LCBO in Ontario, while Canadian lobster and ice wine began gaining popularity on the streets of Korea. From this point on, the expansion of Korean companies into Ontario became more active, serving as the ‘seeds of economic cooperation’ that have led to the recent establishment of large-scale EV battery plants by major Korean conglomerates in Ontario. It was also around this time that the flow of Korean youths entering Toronto through Working Holiday programs or immigration after studying abroad was strengthened.

February 8, 2018

The day before the opening ceremony of the PyeongChang Winter Olympics. On this day, media in both Canada and Korea re-illuminated the glory of the 2010 Vancouver Olympics, emphasizing the special bond between the two nations, and the Canadian delegation received a warm welcome as they stepped onto Korean soil. In particular, the Korean community in Toronto created a heartwarming scene by cheering for both countries simultaneously during the Olympic period.