Thai Ambassador to S. Korea Chaiyong Satjipanon (6th from left) poses with other envoys from ASEAN countries in celemony held in Seoul on August 8, 2011 to mark ASEAN's 44th anniversary.

The Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) celebrated its 44th founding anniversary in Seoul as leaders of ASEAN nations did in their countries on August 8, 2011.

As part of its celebration Thai Ambassador to South Korea Chaiyong Satjipanon (Ph.D), chairman of the ASEAN Committee in Seoul, hosted a reception at Banyan Tree Club and Spa Seoul in Jangchung-dong on August 8 (Monday), 2011.

ASEAN is the 10-nation regional bloc comprising Indonesia, Malaysia, Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, Brunei, Vietnam, Laos, Myanmar, and Cambodia.

Thai Ambassador to S. Korea Chaiyong Satjipanon (right) poses with other envoys from ASEAN countries in celemony held in Seoul on August 8, 2011 to mark ASEAN's 44th anniversary.They are from left to right: Indoneisian Amb. Nicholas Tandi Dammen, Singaporian Amb. Peter Tan Hai Chuan (陈海泉), Vietnamese Amb. Tran Trong Toan, Philippine Amb. Luis T. Cruz, Brunei Amb. Dato Haji Harun Ismail, Myanmar Amb. Myo Lwin, and Thai Ambassador to S. Korea Chaiyong Satjipanon

Many ambassadors from ASEAN nations took part in the celebration. They included Philippine Amb. Luis T. Cruz, Myanmar Amb. Myo Lwin, Brunei Amb. Dato Haji Harun Ismail, Singaporian Amb. Peter Tan Hai Chuan (陈海泉), Vietnamese Amb. Tran Trong Toan, and Indoneisian Amb. Nicholas Tandi Dammen.

Other ambassadors from the Seoul's diplomatic community also participated in the event. They included Guatemalan Amb. Rafael A. Salazar, and Uzbek Amb. Vitali V. Fen. Amb. Fen serves as dean of Diplomatic Corps in Seoul.

Mrs. Lyudmila Fen (2nd from right), wife of Uzbek Amb. Vitali V. Fen, poses with spouses of other envoys from ASEAN nations.

A number of wives of top foreign envoys serving in Seoul were present. They included Mrs. Lyudmila Fen, wife of Uzbek Amb. Vitali V. Fen, and Mrs. Datin Siti Aishah Abdullah, wife of Brunei Amb. Dato Haji Harun Ismail.

South Korean politicians also came to celebrate the 44th anniversary of the geo-political and economic organization of the 10 Southeast Asian nations.

Uzbek Ambassador to S. Korea. Vitali V. Fen (center) poses with South Korean lawmakers You Jung-Hyun (2nd from right) and Lee Han-Sung (2nd from left) at reception held in a Seoul hotel to mark ASEAN's 44th anniversary. At far left is Director Lee Sung-Han, head of INTERPOL NCB Seoul.

Among them were two lawmakers of South Korean ruling Grand National Party (GNP) — You Jung-Hyun and Lee Han-Sung.

The Association of Southeast Asian Nations, or ASEAN, was established on August 8, 1967 in Bangkok, Thailand, with the signing of the ASEAN Declaration (Bangkok Declaration) by the Founding Fathers of ASEAN, namely Indonesia, Malaysia, Philippines, Singapore, and Thailand.

Guatemalan Amb. Rafael A. Salazar (2nd from left) poses with Director Lee Sung-Han (2nd from right) of Korean National Police Agency's Foreign Affairs Bureau. At left is Jeong Hyun-Woo, Liaison Officer's Team Leader of the Bureau. At right is Yu Young-Jin, liaison officer of the bureau.

Brunei Darussalam then joined on Jan. 7, 1984, Vietnam on July 28, 1995, Lao PDR and Myanmar on July 23, 1997, and Cambodia on April 30, 1999, making up what is today the 10 member states of ASEAN.