Ambassador Choi Go-jo, Ghana's Ambassador to Korea, Shines a Light on the Future of Diplomacy and His Personal Story

Each day from Monday to Sunday has a name with a set meaning, and the child is named according to the day of birth. For example, Kofi Annan, who served as UN Secretary-General, was born on a Friday, and Kofi means 'a man born on Friday.' Ambassador Choi's name, Kojo, is the name for a child born on a Monday.

When the elder heard his English name, Kojo, he pronounced it as 'Choehoe Gojo' and praised it as a good name. This name is a Korean-style name that uses the 'K' sound, and it carries a double meaning of a life's climax.

Due to the long influence of tribal society, African nations tend to have strong nationalist tendencies, with a deep sense that only people born into the tribe are 'our people.' As a result, many African countries have been reluctant to appoint ambassadors of foreign descent, but Ghana unusually appointed Ambassador Choi, showing a shift in direction.

During this time, he has been actively working to adapt to Korean society and to advance bilateral diplomatic relations.

He attended elementary school in Seoul and grew up in a rural village in Gangwon Province during middle school. He then moved to Ghana, lived in Africa for 35 years, and eventually returned to Korea to serve as Ghana's ambassador.

Ambassador Choi is a self-made businessman in Ghana. He decided to stay in Ghana and started a business, and along the way he advised and assisted five successive Ghanaian presidents on matters related to Korea. He continued to nurture his ties with Korea, including supporting Ghana's skeleton team during the PyeongChang Winter Olympics, and this background led to his appointment as ambassador.

His ability to speak both Korean and English played a major role in supporting the team, and this became an opportunity to promote sports exchange between Korea and Ghana. Through his role as deputy head, he contributed to strengthening friendship between the two countries.

Before his appointment, Ambassador Choi was known mainly as a businessman, but within a week of taking the post he became the center of national attention and his recognition surged. Overnight he became a politician, and many people came to know him; in particular, under the influence of K-dramas he was even called by the friendly term 'oppa.' This phenomenon made him keenly aware of his popularity.

When Ambassador Choi was appointed, there was debate within Ghana both for and against. He emphasized that he is a 1.5-generation Korean with 100% Korean ancestry, and this background became a subject of some controversy. However, the Ghanaian president pushed ahead with the appointment, saying that if there was someone more qualified, they could bring that person forward. This is considered an example showing that perceptions in African society are changing in an era of inclusiveness and inclusion.

Through the football matches of that time, the idea of Korea and Ghana as 'brother nations' spread widely. Ambassador Choi noted that the close relationship formed through the World Cup continues to this day among many Koreans.

'Jewel in the Palace' is regarded as the work that first sparked the Korean drama craze in Ghana. Beginning with this drama, the spread of Korean culture in Ghana took off in earnest. As mobile data environments improved, Ghanaians watched Korean dramas far more often, playing an important role in the spread of K-culture.

However, his signature table tennis move, the 'sky serve,' became a turning point in a table tennis tournament. When this serve, launched from about 4 meters high, succeeded perfectly, he instantly became a hero among his friends. He recalled that this moment was a decisive opportunity that helped him adapt successfully to school life and grow close to his friends, a key moment in his childhood.

Ghana has a distinctive communal culture of sharing soup dishes among several people. A large soup bowl is filled with soup and foods such as rice cakes, and everyone tears off pieces with their hands and dips them into the broth. This way of sharing food from a single bowl with one's hands symbolizes Ghana's strong sense of community and solidarity.

After coming to Korea, Ambassador Choi suffered an unexplained nerve-twisting condition as an aftereffect of surgery for a spinal cord tumor. However, he miraculously recovered through acupuncture treatment. Following this experience, he obtained an acupuncture license in the United States, runs a clinic, and provides volunteer acupuncture services to many people in Ghana, including the former Ghanaian president and first lady. His acupuncture work has also had a positive impact on Ghana's medical community.

In Ghana, Ambassador Choi built his business skills by exclusively operating a mobile airtime agency for Africa's largest telecommunications company. He went further by founding a personal payment settlement company and building a platform linking banks with international Visa and Mastercard as well as each bank's own cards. Through this system, he introduced data-based installment plans, contributing to innovation in Ghana's financial payment system.

Ambassador Choi stated his goal of developing Ghana from a recipient of one-way Korean aid into a mutually beneficial partner. He hopes Ghana will be recognized not only as a country that receives help from Korea but also as one that can help Korea. He aims to expand cooperation in various fields, including Korea's nuclear energy technology, and to identify and share areas where Ghana can grow into a long-term partner of Korea.

Ambassador Choi expressed his wish to be remembered as someone deeply grateful to both of his homelands, Korea and Ghana. Comparing the two countries to his 'two mothers,' he emphasized that blending the strengths and cultures of both could create synergy like a beautiful 'bibimbap.' He vowed to build a bright future through positive cultural exchange and cooperation between the two nations.