In 1525, Spain conquered El Salvador`s natives to colonize the territory. Then, for about 300 years, the country was under Spanish rule as part of Guatemala until it declared independence in 1821 after a brief period of Mexican rule. Being a member country of the Organization of American States and the Central American Common Market, both the people and government of El Salvador are strongly anti-Communist under the banner of freedom.

Diplomatic relations between Korea and El Salvador were established in 1962 at the ambassadorial level, and the Latin American country has consistently supported the Republic of Korea`s position at the United Nations. Its territory is 140 miles long from east to west and 60 miles wide, with a population of about 3,040,000. Being the most densely populated Republic of Central America, more than foru-fifths of its people are of mixed Spanish-Indian descent. The remainder are pure Indians, whites and a few Negroes. Most of the people are Catholics. The foundation of El Salvador`s economy in modern times has continued to be agriculture, with coffee accounting for about 85 percent of its total foreign exchange resources. Cotton and suggar rank next to coffee in the country`s agricultural production. El Salvador also abounds in such underground resources as gold, silver, coal and copper.

Welcoming President Sanchez` visit to Korea, the Ministry of Communications is to release a commemorative postage stamp in the hope the strong ties of friendship and economic cooperation between our two countries will continue to be further strengthened in the future.