Most Popular
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Opposition-led Assembly unilaterally passes bill to probe Marine's death
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Inflation eases in April, continues bumpy ride
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Golden chance to liquidate babies’ gold rings?
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Seoul to more than double military drones by 2026 to counter NK threats
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Russia sent more than 165,000 barrels of refined petroleum to N. Korea in March: White House
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Seoul alerts overseas missions to NK terror threats
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Over 60% of S. Koreans support W100m childbirth incentive: survey
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Key suspects grilled over alleged abuse of power in Marine death inquiry
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‘Inside Out 2’ adds four new emotions, explores teenage life
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Questions raised over fair promotion of RM, NewJeans
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EU inspires, educates students at 55th diplomatic anniversary
The European Union delegation in Korea last week celebrated the 55th anniversary of diplomatic relations with the Republic of Korea by allowing students from Seoul’s Insoo Middle School to design the logo of the anniversary. The winning logo, designed by student Shin Ah-young, will be used at various promotional events and communications between EU and Korean diplomats throughout this year. “Diplomatic relations are not just about interaction between governments, but also cooperation between peo
April 2, 2018
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[Herald Interview] ‘Career at ICRC immensely rewarding, gratifying’
Boris Michel, a Swiss citizen working as regional director for the Asia-Pacific region at the International Committee of the Red Cross, believes he grew up in a “privileged environment where the culture of neutrality, consensus and altruism” piqued his interest in humanitarian work.“A lawyer by training, I have learned quickly that a society without rules and principles can lead to abuse and suffering,” he told The Korea Herald last week, adding he has worked in conflict zones in Africa, Central
April 2, 2018
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‘EU supports ‘critical engagement’ with NK’
International sanctions against North Korea for eliminating its nuclear and missile programs should not be an end in itself, but the means to force the regime to comply with the global nonproliferation regime, said a senior European Union official during an official visit to Korea last week.Helga Schmid, secretary general of the EU’s External Action Service, said the EU lends full support for the “peaceful, negotiated solution” of Pyongyang’s denuclearization, aimed at providing lasting security
April 2, 2018
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UK Embassy plays soccer with NK defectors for charity
The British Embassy in Seoul, together with British citizens in Korea, participated in a sporting event Saturday to raise money for charity. The United Kingdom’s diplomatic missions around the world and the public take part in the Sport Relief event biannually for charities of various purposes. This year, as part of the campaign, the local embassy staff and North Korea defectors played a friendly soccer match at Seoul Foreign School with the money raised going to the Eugene Bell Foundation -- a
March 27, 2018
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‘Lending ears to scholars can rationalize diplomacy’
Over the last week, Pradeep Taneja, who lectures on international relations at the University of Melbourne in Australia, toured Korea and witnessed its sound economy and tense security. Taneja, along with 10 scholars and researchers from Australia, visited the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Ministry of Unification, National Assembly, National Diplomatic Academy, Australian Embassy and Asan Institute for Policy Studies, among other destinations, in a program jointly organized by the Korea Founda
March 27, 2018
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Costa Rican coffee gains stronger presence in Korea
Costa Rican coffee has secured a stronger position in the Korean market, where coffee consumption is steadily growing, according to the Costa Rican Embassy in Seoul. Various types of Costa Rican coffee will be showcased at the Coffee Expo Seoul at Coex from Apr. 5-8.Costa Rica is the host country of the global event, with several of its coffee producers and exporters participating and presenting their sustainable production methods. They will also hold coffee-making sessions and expand their net
March 27, 2018
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[Herald Interview] ‘There will be no hiccups in two-way commerce after Brexit’
Before starting his tenure here in early March, British Ambassador Simon Smith spent six months last year learning the Korean language in Seoul. “I’ve had a lot of experience learning different languages over the last 33 years as a diplomat, and Korean was the most difficult,” he told journalists at the British Embassy in Seoul last week, adding he aims to improve his Korean to deepen his understanding of the country. “I also want to be able to read major works of Korean literature and travel an
March 27, 2018
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Leaders of S. Korea, UAE agree to upgrade ties, boost economic cooperation
South Korean President Moon Jae-in and Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi Mohammed bin Zayed Al-Nahyan agreed Sunday to upgrade their countries' relationship to a "special strategic partnership," possibly paving the way for a boosting of their ties and economic cooperation to the level of allies.In a bilateral summit, the two leaders also reaffirmed their agreement to launch regular talks between their senior foreign and defense officials, known as the Two Plus Two Dialogue, along with a new strategic di
March 25, 2018
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[Herald Interview] ‘Turkey, Korea can reap economic fruits from historic ties’
Since successfully completing several joint infrastructure construction projects in Turkey -- including the Eurasian Tunnel, an underground tunnel bridging Europe and Asia beneath the Bosporus Strait, and Yavuz Sultan Selim Bridge, one that carries rail and motor vehicles above the strait -- Turkish and Korean companies have gone beyond Turkey to win bids in third markets. One of them is a consortium consisting of Korea Highway Corp., SK Engineering and Construction and Turkish companies Alarko
March 19, 2018
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Bulgaria touts UNESCO treasures while on Council of EU presidency
The Bulgarian Embassy held a photo exhibition last week that highlighted the country’s UNESCO treasures. The event, which ran from Monday to Sunday at Gangnam Tourist Information Center, featured 17 large-scale photographs by Bulgarian photographer Alexander Nishkov, showing Bulgaria’s seven historical sites and two natural heritage sites on the list of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization. “The strategic position of Bulgaria as a land at a crossroads between Euro
March 19, 2018
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Ireland-Korea ties buoyed by free trade, democracy, culture: Irish minister
Eoghan Murphy, Irish minister for housing, planning and local government, visited Korea last week to promote Ireland as an attractive investment destination and important trade partner, coinciding with St. Patrick’s Day celebrations.“My government is committed to building a stronger and more vibrant relationship with the Asian region and Korea is a key partner for us,” he said at a reception in Seoul on March 13, in front of some 200 guests.“Our trade in both directions is growing rapidly with t
March 19, 2018
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Costa Rica happiest Latin American country: report
Costa Rica has been ranked the happiest country in Latin America, according to the United Nations’ Happiness Report 2018. The Central American nation was 13th out of 156 countries surveyed in the report, which placed Finland at the top. The report looked at factors associated with well-being: income, healthy life expectancy, social support, freedom, trust and generosity. “Amongst the reasons why Costa Rica consistently ranks high in happiness is our historic decision to abolish the army in 1949,
March 19, 2018
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[Herald Interview] ‘Zambia, land of peace, stability and investment opportunities’
For Zambian Ambassador to Korea Wylbur Simuusa, rectifying the mismatch between Zambia’s solid position in Africa and its obscure presence in Korea is one of his most urgent tasks. Zambia is known in Africa as a nation of peace and stability, an honest broker that has mediated numerous peace agreements and helped neighboring countries gain independence, he told The Korea Herald. It has also sheltered countless freedom fighters and refugees from bordering countries, while having no major internal
March 12, 2018
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Bulgaria celebrates Council of EU presidency on National Day
The Bulgarian Embassy celebrated last week the presidency of the Council of the European Union this year, as well as its 140th anniversary of national independence from the Ottoman Empire on March 3, 1878.“In March 2018, exactly 140 years after the restoration of our statehood, the Republic of Bulgaria is holding the presidency of the Council of the EU until June 30, the first time since our EU accession in 2007,” said Bulgarian Ambassador Petar Andonov in a speech at a reception in Seoul on Mar
March 12, 2018
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Georgia mourns death of citizen in Russian detention
Georgia expresses its deep sorrow over the death of its citizen Archil Tatunashvili in the region of Tskhinvali, also known as South Ossetia, who was killed while under detention by occupying Russian forces on Feb. 22, said the Georgian Embassy in Seoul. The Georgian Ministry of Foreign Affairs also condemned those responsible for his death and urged Russia to return his body for a medical examination and burial, it added. Two more Georgian citizens had previously been detained in the region, on
March 12, 2018
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British envoy leaves Korea with peace of mind, optimism for tomorrow
British Ambassador Charles Hay wrapped up his three-year tenure in Korea, having helped enhance all-encompassing bilateral relations from trade and investment to defense, culture and education.Hay, a former director of consular services in London in charge of crisis response prior to his posting here, began his ambassadorship in February 2015. He left Korea last week. In a media interview at the embassy on Wednesday, the career diplomat said he had a “remarkable” three years in the country, witn
March 5, 2018
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Exhibition shows vibrant colors of Mexican nature
The Mexican Embassy in Korea has organized an art exhibition featuring iconic representations of Mexican landscapes and lives at the Mun Gallery of Dongdaemun Design Plaza in Seoul.The event “Geographies, Contemporary Mexican Art in Korea” runs through next Tuesday free of charge. It has been arranged in collaboration with the Seoul Design Foundation.From the vigorous hues of deserts to vivacious tapestries of urban life, and from the virginal marine life to visionary imagination of topographies
March 5, 2018
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[Herald Interview] ‘Kazakhstan seeks Korean expertise in green technologies, investments’
Kazakhstan, the world’s largest landlocked country, has primarily relied on its coal, oil and natural gas for energy, but is now moving toward renewables as global trends change. With the world shifting away from polluting energy sources to cleaner forms, Kazakhstan is keen on making the transition and eventually becoming the region’s pacesetter in the green economy, according to its top diplomat in charge of green technology investments. The blueprint for Kazakhstan’s plan to become a greener e
March 5, 2018
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Foreign Minister Kang leaves for Geneva to attend UN human rights meeting
South Korean Foreign Minister Kang Kyung-wha left for Geneva, Switzerland, on Sunday to attend a UN meeting on human rights where she will likely touch on North Korea and the wartime sexual slavery of Korean women by Japan.Kang plans to deliver a keynote speech at the UN Human Rights Council meeting which kicks off Monday (local time), according to the foreign ministry. The Geneva-based council has adopted a resolution condemning the North's human rights situation every year since its launch in
Feb. 25, 2018
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S. Korean, Finnish foreign ministers discuss cooperation on N. Korean nukes
Finland's foreign minister reaffirmed his support for South Korea's policy on North Korea in a meeting with his South Korean counterpart in Seoul on Thursday, the foreign ministry said. The meeting between Foreign Minister Kang Kyung-wha and Finnish Foreign Minister Timo Soini was held to discuss bilateral and global cooperation as well as the security situation on the Korean Peninsula.Kang called for Finland's "sustained attention and cooperation" with regard to South Korea's push to open denuc
Feb. 22, 2018