Seven-member Korean boy band BTS rang in the new year with a live performance at New York City’s Times Square. Film director Bong Joon-ho rewrote the history of Korean film with his black comedy “Parasite,” which has been nominated for best picture at the Oscars. Korean culture as a whole is reaching new highs on the international stage.To keep the momentum going, Korean creators should continue to pursue innovation, said Lee Soo-man, one of the most important figures in the K-

As pro-democracy protests continue for over 8 months with no sign of abating, Hong Kong Tourism Board in Korea has introduced various tips for tourists hesitant to travel to Hong Kong. Hong Kong Tourism Board said Monday that it has carved out a section of its official blog dedicated to offering real time information on Hong Kong starting Jan. 14. Local Hong Kongers will share their daily lives through the blog and the blog is also expected to launch a system to answer tourists’ questions

The International Vaccine Institute, a Seoul-based international organization, has renewed its cooperation with the Swedish International Cooperation Agency for continued efforts to accelerate vaccine research and development for global health, the organization said Monday.As part of a longstanding partnership between the Swedish government and the IVI, the Swedish International Cooperation Agency has pledged to fund the IVI some $5.24 million over the next five years.“We’re proud to

Guatemalan Ambassador to South Korea Marco Tulio Chicas Sosa (right) shakes hands with Herald Corp. CEO and Publisher Kwon Chung-won during a courtesy call at the Herald Corp. headquarters in central Seoul on Jan. 15. Chicas Sosa presented his credentials to Korean President Moon Jae-in in November last year. (Park Hyun-koo/The Korea Herald)

Lee Soo-man, founder and chief producer of S.M. Entertainment, one of the big three agencies in the K-pop world, said Tuesday that he sees no fault in artist management and that online hate speech is to blame for suicides and increasing cases of K-pop stars suffering from anxiety disorders.  “There is no fault in the system. I take pride in (our artist management) system … we are possibly No. 1 worldwide. We think a lot about the education and character (of artists),” Lee

The 2019 ASEAN-Korea Youth Academic Workshop involving 14 winners of an essay contest has entered its final phase, the intergovernmental organization said Monday.The 14 youths were selected for their top performance in the 2019 ASEAN-Korea Academic Essay Contest co-organized by the ASEAN-Korea Centre and ASEAN University Network between June and October last year.“Following the success of the 2019 ASEAN-ROK Commemorative Summit and the first Mekong-ROK Summit, ASEAN and Korea are now advan

The British Embassy in Seoul took part in the 2020 Youth Ambassador Camp for middle and high school students in Korea on Friday to raise awareness about the upcoming UN Climate Change Conference in England. The event, organized by the Korean Culture Association, was held at the Olympic Parktel in southeastern Seoul with the aim of improving intercultural and global awareness. It was attended by some 100 students aspiring to pursue a career in diplomacy and international affairs.  Representi

The Indian Chamber of Commerce in Korea has elected Sachin Satpute, president of Novelis Asia, to lead the business lobby as of Jan. 1 on the back of his near 30 years of experience, the ICCK said Monday.“While the Indian economy is also navigating through rough times, the government’s push for infrastructure development and the thrust for structural reform … will enable India to achieve sustained economic growth in the future,” Satpute said in a statement.“And I c

[Meet the diplomat] Ambassador says women’s empowerment in Bangladesh played major role in socioeconomic development

Ambassador sees pivotal role of democracy in Korea’s progress in various fields

Omani Ambassador Mohamed Al Harthy received an honorary Seoul citizenship in recognition of his efforts to foster relations between the two countries, the Oman Embassy said Monday.Al Harthy started his term here in 2010 and currently serves key roles as the dean of the diplomatic corps and the president of the Korea-Arab Society. “Ambassador Al Harthy is known to have strong interest in Korean culture. He has made efforts in public diplomacy through a series of cultural, artistic events an

Bangladeshi foreign minister says the country is an “ideal fit” for Korean businesses

KHULNA, Bangladesh -- Bombarded with mobile messages, emails and social media posts, an adventure in Mother Nature is a popular choice for many travelers seeking to escape.The Sundarbans, the largest mangrove forest in the world, is a destination where people can disconnect from technology.The Korea Herald had a chance to visit the Sundarbans between Dec. 19 and 21 as part of the Visit Bangladesh Program.The unique paradise lies on the delta of the Ganges, Brahmaputra and Meghna rivers on the Ba

The following article was contributed by the Embassy of Ukraine -- Ed.Startup has recently become a superfluous word, and is viewed as a driver of future-oriented innovative economy. But you have probably never heard about a startup country. This metaphor was used by President Volodymyr Zelenskyy to describe ambitious and vibrant economy of Ukraine, which is in many ways different from other emerging markets.In the five years since the Revolution of Dignity, notwithstanding aggressive efforts of

Amid global awareness of the need to reduce reliance on fossil fuels, the Australian ambassador to Korea highlighted hydrogen as the next source of clean energy.“There is a global momentum to develop the hydrogen economy, and Korea has already positioned itself as a leader in hydrogen technology,” Australian Ambassador James Choi said.“Australia is looking to create international partnerships in this sector. We look forward to building on the strong existing cooperation between