Spain has long held a special fascination for me, not least because it was among the first Western nations to make contact with Korea.
That connection dates back to 1593 — more than a decade before Don Quixote was written — when Gregorio de Cespedes, a Spanish Jesuit priest, arrived on the Korean Peninsula at the request of the Roman Catholic Church. He accompanied the Japanese Christian Gen. Konishi Yukinaga during the Japanese invasions of Korea (1592-1598).
Cespedes spent about a year in Jinhae — now part of Changwon in South Gyeongsang Province — where Japanese troops were stationed. Although his direct contact with Koreans was limited, his presence marked a quiet yet significant milestone, introducing Korea to the European world. In four letters sent to Spain, he recorded his impressions of the country, leaving the earliest known European written accounts of Korea.
The significance of Cespedes’ visit continues to resonate today. In 2015, Changwon City created the Cespedes Memorial Park to commemorate the 400th anniversary of his arrival, symbolizing the earliest recorded bridge between Spain and Korea. Scholarly interest has also grown internationally. In 1986, Park Chul, a leading scholar of Spanish literature and later president of Hankuk University of Foreign Studies, published pioneering research on Changwon City. His academic work, released in both Korea and Spain, helped deepen scholarly awareness of this early encounter and served as a catalyst for strengthening long-term academic and cultural exchange between the two countries — demonstrating how a single historical moment can resonate across centuries.
Centuries later, the bridge between Spain and Korea continues to expand in dynamic new ways. Navarre, in northern Spain, has emerged as a gateway for Korean investment into Europe, thanks to its strategic location and strong industrial base. An investment seminar held in Seoul on Sept. 22, 2025, organized by the Navarre government, brought together senior officials including MarÃa Chivite, Navarre president, and Julio Herraiz España, the newly appointed Spanish ambassador to Korea. The event provided a platform to explore new opportunities and deepen bilateral business cooperation.
Meanwhile, another meaningful cultural bridge was built far from the European mainland, in the Canary Islands. On Oct. 14, 2025, the 6-meter-tall aluminum blue sculpture “Greeting Man” was unveiled at Canary Square in Las Palmas.
Bowing toward the sea, the work symbolizes respect and gratitude, commemorating both the 75th anniversary of Korea-Spain diplomatic relations and the 60th anniversary of Korea’s deep-sea fishing presence in the Canaries.
Korea’s Atlantic fishing history began in 1966. Despite harsh and perilous conditions, Korean fishermen contributed significantly to Korea’s economic growth. To honor their sacrifice, Korean officials held a memorial service at the Korean Sailors’ Cemetery, remembering the 117 sailors who lost their lives at sea. Attended by Spanish and regional officials — and marked by a message from King Felipe VI — the ceremony underscored an enduring friendship between the two nations.
From the quiet footsteps of a Jesuit missionary in 1593 to the blue, bowing figure gazing toward the Atlantic unveiled in 2025, the story of Spain and Korea is one of lasting connection — rooted in shared respect, mutual understanding and the human spirit’s timeless desire to reach across oceans and centuries.
Choe Chong-dae (choecd@naver.com) is a guest columnist for The Korea Times. He is a recipient of Sweden’s Royal Order of the Polar Star, one of the nation’s most distinguished honors.