World · East Asia & Pacific · 3 hrs ago
Tanzanian diplomat Deborah Mukwenda builds ties between Tanzania and South Korea
Deborah Eric Mukwenda came to South Korea from Tanzania in 2009 as an 18-year-old student who spoke no Korean.
She studied Korean, earned degrees in education and psychology, and joined the team preparing to open Tanzania’s embassy in Seoul in 2017.
She now works as the embassy’s public information officer, promoting Tanzania and supporting communication between the two countries.
Her fluency in Korean, English and Swahili helps her connect officials and the public through publicity, events and interpreting.
In June 2024, she interpreted for Tanzanian President Samia Suluhu Hassan during a meeting with South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol and was also present when Hassan met singer Cho Yong-pil.
Cho’s song about Mount Kilimanjaro helped Mukwenda introduce Tanzania to people in Korea when she first arrived, she said.
She later met Cho as an interpreter when Hassan thanked him for helping make Tanzania better known.
Mukwenda received an award for her professional contribution, and she continues her work at the embassy.
Deborah Eric Mukwenda, a Tanzanian diplomat in South Korea, helps strengthen communication between the two countries.
She works as a public information officer at Tanzania’s embassy in Seoul, handling media relations, cultural and tourism promotion, and official events.
Mukwenda came to South Korea in 2009 as a student and joined preparations to open Tanzania’s embassy there in 2017.
She interpreted at a meeting between Tanzanian President Samia Suluhu Hassan and South Korea’s president during Hassan’s June 2024 visit.
Mukwenda also interpreted at Hassan’s meeting with singer Cho Yong-pil, whose song about Kilimanjaro helped make Tanzania more familiar to some South Koreans.
- Who
- Deborah Eric Mukwenda, a Tanzanian public information officer at Tanzania’s embassy in South Korea.
- What
- She supports ties between Tanzania and South Korea through public information, cultural promotion, and interpreting.
- When
- She came to South Korea in 2009 and joined the embassy’s establishment preparations in 2017. She interpreted at a presidential meeting in June 2024.
- Where
- South Korea, including Tanzania’s embassy in Seoul.
- Why
- She helps promote Tanzania and support communication between Tanzanian and South Korean officials and communities.
This story does not have two clearly opposing sides.
Mukwenda came to South Korea at age 18 to study.
After completing her master’s degree, she joined preparations to open Tanzania’s embassy in South Korea.
She interpreted at a meeting between the presidents of Tanzania and South Korea during the Korea-Africa Summit.
She interpreted at Tanzanian President Samia Suluhu Hassan’s meeting with singer Cho Yong-pil.
- Role
- Public information officer at Tanzania’s embassy in South Korea
- Languages
- Korean, English and Swahili
- Arrival in South Korea
- April 2009, age 18
- Embassy preparations
- Joined in 2017
- Presidential meeting
- June 2024, during the Korea-Africa Summit
What people are saying
I really benefited a lot from “Leopard of Kilimanjaro” in the early days of my life in Korea.