As representative of the Republic of Hungary in Seoul it is my great pleasure to welcome the readers of my fellow citizen Istvn Medvigy's work "Economic and Trade Relations Between the European Union and South Korea." I warmly congratulate the publisher's timely decision to issue this study on the relations of the EU with the Republic of Korea. We are in the period when both sides are making efforts to enhance the cooperation of these two significant players in the world economy. There are intensive negotiations between Brussels and Seoul on concluding a Free Trade Agreement. The European Union is also taking steps to increase its visibility in South Korea. The work, relying on numerous profound researches, is exciting and very informative, dealing with various ramifying and interlinking topics and issues. Among the many merits that it has I would like to emphasize the fact that the author goes well beyond the objectives indicated in the title and gives an outlook on inter-Korean dialogue and on the Brussels-Pyongyang relations as well. He dedicates also a special chapter to the political and economic ties between Hungary and the Republic of Korea. Mikls Lengyel Ambassador