June 30, 1950

The Canadian government officially decided to dispatch three Royal Canadian Navy destroyers to Korean waters. This was Canada's first practical military support measure as a member of the UN forces following the outbreak of the Korean War. At the time, Secretary of State for External Affairs Lester B. Pearson spearheaded Canada's swift and active participation, emphasizing the defense of the UN's collective security system.

July 3, 1950

The Royal Canadian Navy destroyers HMCS Cayuga, HMCS Athabaskan, and HMCS Sioux departed from the Esquimalt naval base in British Columbia and set sail for Korea. As part of the UN naval forces, they played a pivotal role in early wartime operations by successfully executing missions such as naval blockades, escorting transport ships, and providing naval gunfire support in Korean waters. Today, this deployment is regarded as the great starting point of Korea-Canada security cooperation.

July 1: Canada Day

July 1, 1867, marks the official establishment of the Canadian Confederation. Originally known as "Dominion Day," the name was changed to the current "Canada Day" in 1982. Since Korea and Canada established formal diplomatic relations in 1963, this day has become a meaningful occasion for Korean compatriots—who have grown into key members of Canadian society—to take a leading role in various local festivals and commemorative events, further strengthening the friendship and solidarity between the two nations.

July 2, 2023

The South Korean government dispatched a 151-member Korea Disaster Relief Team (KDRT), comprising personnel from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Korea Forest Service, the National Fire Agency, and the Korea International Cooperation Agency (KOICA), to the site of massive wildfires in Quebec, Canada. The government had previously finalized this support measure on June 29 through a joint public-private council. Honoring the sacrifices and support shown by Canada during the 1950 Korean War, South Korea extended a helping hand to return the favor during Canada's national disaster 73 years later. This serves as a monumental example demonstrating that cooperation between the two nations has expanded beyond traditional security into a global disaster response partnership.