A new “phygital” solution -- a hybrid of physical and digital -- is key for the survival of the art and culture industry that has been hit hard by the COVID-19 pandemic, says Dinesh Patnaik, director general of the Indian Council for Cultural Relations. In an interview with The Korea Herald, Patnaik said future events have to embrace the new hybrid mode. “Culture communication forum (CCF) was exactly the hybrid mode of physical as well as digital participation, it’s fu

Diplomatic Circuit Sept. 14, 2021

Vietnamese Ambassador to South Korea Nguyen Vu Tung met on Wednesday with Choi Jin-young, CEO of The Korea Herald, and they exchanged views on bilateral ties between the two countries and the struggles of small businesses coping with COVID-19. “Next year Vietnam and Korea will celebrate the 30th anniversary of diplomatic relations. Many opportunities lie ahead,” the Vietnamese ambassador said. “It’s the right time to enhance bilateral cooperation.” Choi echoed

Diplomatic Circuit Sept. 10, 2021

Climate change is the biggest existential challenge for humankind and the world needs to make a collective effort to use the rapidly narrowing window of opportunity to tackle the issue, says Indonesian Ambassador to Korea Umar Hadi. “We shall think green and transform now,” Hadi said in an interview with The Korea Herald, underscoring a need for a new ideology on sustainable development and for industries to undergo a green transformation. “I think, right now, what humanity t

Diplomatic Circuit Sept. 7, 2021

FRIENDLY TIES -- Bader Al Awadi (right), ambassador of Kuwait to South Korea, fist-bumps with The Korea Herald CEO Choi Jin-young during a courtesy visit to the Herald Corp. headquarters in central Seoul on Tuesday.

Diplomatic Circuit Sept. 6, 2021

Korea is leading the world in the green transition with its Green New Deal, Carlos Eduardo Correa, Colombia’s environment and sustainable development minister said in an interview with the Korea Herald. Recognizing that Colombia also had a significant role to play in environmental issues, he said the two countries could work more effectively to achieving their aims if thy worked together “Colombia and Korea have big responsibility of sustainable development in post-COVID-19, if w

Diplomatic Circuit Aug. 30, 2021

Colombia welcomes Korean companies to bid for energy and mining projects, Diego Mesa, Colombia’s minister of energy and mining said on Aug. 25, during an interview with The Korea Herald in Seoul. According to Mesa, Colombia has two major auctions for renewable energy and oil and gas coming up in October and December.  “Colombia’s main policy has been energy transition and multiplication. Korean companies can take part in upcoming biddings either directly or through prov

Diplomatic Circuit Aug. 30, 2021

The Latvian Embassy in Seoul unveiled an exhibition Teusday to mark the 30th anniversary of diplomatic relations between Latvia and Korea. The exhibition titled “Latvia: A New Beginning” was unveiled at the Geumjeong Cultural Center in Busan and will showcase diversity of Latvia’s culture until Oct. 9. One part of the exhibition, “Latvia. Architecture at Convergence,” reflects the rich culture of Latvia and has been created as a follow-up to a special issue of th

Diplomatic Circuit Aug. 27, 2021

  Colombian President Ivan Duque on Thursday expressed hopes of expanded economic ties with Korea, touting the brotherhood between the two nations forged during Colombia’s participation in the 1950-53 Korean War. “More than 5,000 Colombians came into this nation to defend liberty and democracy. More than 230 were killed. Four hundred were injured. And they gave the best of their lives to protect this nation. So, there is a brotherhood that has existed since then,” the p

Diplomatic Circuit Aug. 27, 2021

Colombia can help Korean businesses with their popular cosmetics and food products by supplying exotic ingredients, Colombia’s Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, Rodolfo Enrique Zea, said in an interview with The Korea Herald on Thursday. He gave the example of copoazu, an Amazon fruit that can be used to make desserts and confectionery. The minister was visiting Seoul this week, accompanying President Ivan Duque’s three-day state visit. The president held summit talk

Diplomatic Circuit Aug. 27, 2021

New Zealand’s chamber of commerce in Korea, or the Kiwi Chamber, New Zealand Trade and Enterprise, the Seoul Metropolitan Government and Invest Seoul Center jointly launched the two-day “New Zealand-Korea Tech Roadshow 2021” webinar Wednesday. The tech roadshow aims to emphasize New Zealand‘s role as a testbed of agricultural technologies and its status as a global leader in the field. Tech Roadshow 2021’s agenda is “People & Environment” focusing

Diplomatic Circuit Aug. 25, 2021

The Indian Embassy has teamed up with Yonsei University’s Institute of East and West Studies to co-host a two-day International Symposium entitled “Jammu & Kashmir and Ladakh: Developmental Dynamics and Future Trajectories.” As part of celebrations for India’s Independence Day, the symposium was held Monday and Tuesday to analyze development strategies and map future trajectories of Jammu & Kashmir and Ladakh region through growth models of India and Korea. Ra

Diplomatic Circuit Aug. 24, 2021

Denmark has a lot of room for increased cooperation in strengthening public-private partnerships as well as in the environmental, social and governance, or ESG, realm with Korea, Anne Marie Engtoft Larsen, Denmark’s tech ambassador said in an email interview with the Korea Herald. Saying that the Danish-Korean green growth alliance launched in 2011 shows Denmark and Korea are on track to strengthening public-private partnerships and ESG, Larsen said that Korea’s hosting of the Part

Diplomatic Circuit Aug. 24, 2021

GOLD CROSS -- Ro Jae-hun, the founding president of the Korea-Hungary Friendship Association and son of former President Roh Tae-woo (left), and Jang Si-ho (right) pose with Hungarian Ambassador Mozes Csoma after receiving the Hungarian Gold Cross of Merit, the country’s second-highest civilian honor, on Friday. Roh received the medal for contributing to Hungary-Korea ties, while Jang was recognized for his contribution to economic relations between the two countries.

Diplomatic Circuit Aug. 24, 2021

The Singapore Embassy in Seoul celebrated the country‘s 56th National Day Wednesday. 　 As part of the online program, a Singapore Airlines cabin crew performed a National Day song titled ‘Where I Belong’. A cultural performance titled ‘Friendship Promenade’ was also performed in collaboration with Singapore’s Ding Yi Music Company and Korean traditional musician Gamin Kang. Singapore’s ambassador to Korea Eric Teo thanked the participants, and expre

Diplomatic Circuit Aug. 20, 2021

The Bangladesh Embassy in Seoul observed National Mourning Day 2021 to mark the 46th martyrdom anniversary of Bangladesh’s first president, Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, who is known as the “father of the nation,” Sunday. As part of the program, Bangladesh Ambassador Abida Islam and embassy officials lowered Bangladesh’s national flag to half-mast, wearing black badges as they paid homage to Bangabandhu. The ambassador unveiled the compilation of Bangabandhu&rsqu

Diplomatic Circuit Aug. 16, 2021