Following last year's half century Singapore National Day reception while commemorating its 40th anniversary of diplomatic ties with the Republic of Korea at the same time, the Embassy of Singapore in Seoul paved the way for new half century toward its future with a reception, held in the Seoul Millennium Hilton on Aug. 17th evening, 2016.

Both similar moods of small but strong countries between the two nations were filling with the venue of the Grandball Room, Seoul Millennium Hilton on that day evening while even many envoys & senior diplomats than expected at first were attending despite of their hot summer holiday seasons in the middle of August.

Including ASEAN countries envoys such as Laos Amb. Khamsouay KEODALAVONG & Mme., Philippines Amb. Raul S. Hernandez, Indonesia Amb. John Aristianto Prasetio, Sri Lanka Amb. Manisha Gunasekera, India Amb. Vikram Kumar Doraiswami, Sweden envoy Anne HÖGLUND, Ireland Amb. Aingeal O'DONOGHUE, Sierra Leone Amb. Omrie Michael GOLLEY & Mme., Argentina Amb. Jorge Jose Alberto ROBALLO, Egypt Amb. Hany SELIM LABIB, Libya Amb. Otman S. Saad AHBARA and Colombia Amb. Tito Saul PINILLA PINILLA from each continents showed up evenly in addition to Spain Amb. Gonzalo Ortiz Diez-Tortosa, Bulgaria Amb. Petar Andonov, Poland Amb. Krzysztof lgnacy Majka, Kyrgyz Amb. Askar Beshimov, Turkmenistan Amb. Myrat Mammetalyyev, & Uzbekistan Amb. Botir Asadov.

Today, Singapore has emerged as a global center of finance, trade and tourism beyond Asia, as many observers agree on it and neighbouring countries envy it. In conjunction with Korea among others, Singapore Amb. Yip Wei Kiat showed confidence, saying: "Singapore was the second-largest foreign investor in Korea last year which reflects our confidence in the resilience of the Korean economy".

Actually among prominent Korean E&C companies, GS E&C won a $1.46 billion contract in March to build the world’s largest vehicle depot in Singapore. According to the speech of Singapore envoy, Hyundai E&C set up a joint research center in Singapore in January with Nanyang Technological University,

Minister Kang Ho-in of Land, Infrastructure & Transport who graced Singapore 51st Independence Day reception as a guest honor on behalf of the Korean government, confirmed by his congratulatory remarks: "As the world’s second-largest market for Korean construction firms after the Middle East, contracts worth $38.1 billion were secured as of June, this year".

Academic exchange between the two countries emerges as an another important pilar to boost ties recently, according to Singapore Amb. Yip Wei Kiat. Touching upon 'Building on Singapore of Tomorrow' which means preparing for the next 50 years of the future, Minister Kang expressed thanks for the participation of Singapore Government which has been recently imposing sanctions to North Korea in tandem with international community, adding it becomes big force for the Korean peninsula to go for the nuclear disarmament. National Assembly Foreign Affairs Committee chairman Shim Jae-kwon said through his toast remarks that Korean companies have changed skylines of Singapore.

While Singaporeans have made great strides during over last half century, new challenges lie ahead. Through his National Day message, Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong pointed out: "Firstly, we have a harmonious multi-racial society, but extremist terrorism can tear our society apart. Secondly, economic growth has benefited us all, but our economy is at a turning point. And thirdly, our political system has thus far delivered good government, stability and progress. But our society is changing, and our unity will come under new strains." However Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong stressed with strong belief: "I believe that we can.", throwing a question regarding "How can Singapore be different?".

Ahead its Independence Day fete, Singaporean Ambassador to Korea Yip Wei Kiat, was conspicuous by hosting a concert to celebrate Singapore's National Day and Korea's Liberation Day at the Star Plaza in Seoul on Aug. 15 evening in comparison with the India Embassy's traditional dance performances to commemorate India Independence Day & Korea's Liberation Day simultaneously in the morning on Aug. 15th at Dongkuk University and Pakistan Independence Day singer performances in the eve of Aug. 15th at COEX Auditorium respectively.

The "Korea-Singapore Friendship Concert," co-organized with the Seodaemun-gu Office, brought together performances by the Singapore Wind Symphony (SWS) and the Sejong Symphonic Wind Orchestra (SSWO). It featured 11 pieces, with five performed by the SSWO, four by the SWS and two combined pieces, according to the Embassy of Singapore in Seoul.