The Korea Times
When Italy marks Republic Day on June 2, the occasion carries more weight than patriotism. Festa della Repubblica commemorates the 1946 referendum that transformed Italy from a monarchy into a republic — and the first time Italian women were granted voting rights. Nearly eight decades on, it remains a moment for Italians to reflect not only on history but also on identity and values. For Italian Ambassador to Korea Emilia Gatto, who arrived in Seoul in September 2023, the celebration comes amid another personal journey — discovering Korea and, perhaps unexpectedly, finding echoes of home. After nearly three years of diplomatic life in Korea, she has increasingly come to see similarities between the two countries' peoples, so much so that she now understands why Koreans often describe themselves as "the Italians of Asia." At first, she admits, she did not quite understand the comparison. But after living in Seoul, interacting with people and observing everyday life, she says she began to see the resemblance herself. "We have many differences, of course. Koreans are much shyer at the
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