On 30 May, the Embassy of Latvia in Seoul hosted an official ceremony for the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding between the Republic of Latvia and the Republic of Korea on the mutual recognition of seafarers’ certificates. For Latvia, the document was signed by Jānis Krastiņš, Chairman of the Board of the Maritime Administration of Latvia, and for the Republic of Korea – by Ki-doo Eom, Director General for the Shipping and Logistic Bureau at the Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries. Following the signing ceremony, the Latvian Ambassador Pēteris Vaivars gave a reception in honour of the milestone event. In his welcoming remarks the Ambassador noted with pleasure that the memorandum was the first inter-governmental document signed on the premises of the Embassy of Latvia in Seoul, which is one of the most recently opened bilateral embassies of Latvia in the world. The invitees were officials from the Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries of the Republic Korea, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Latvia, as well as the media. By signing the memorandum, both parties undertake to recognize seafarers’ certificates issued by the parties and needed by Latvian seamen to work on the vessels of the Republic of Korea, and vice versa. This will facilitate the current practices and offer broader opportunities for seafarers from both countries to work on Latvian ships and those of the Republic of Korea.