Film exposes Poland’s embrace of North Korean orphans

During the 1950-53 Korean War, around 2,000 North Korean orphans settled in Poland, then a communist ally in the Warsaw Pact, through a covert arrangement of socialist care and schooling. Some 1,270 of them went to the tranquil forested village of Plakowice in the southwest, where from 1951 to 1959 they lived under the nurturing eyes of 300 Polish teachers. Living off their humane guardianship, the children came to learn the Polish language and found a second home in the fledgling socialist soci

Oct. 31, 2016

New Zealand wants Korea to join TPP: ambassador

New Zealand's top envoy in Seoul said Tuesday she hopes South Korea will join the Trans Pacific Partnership, calling the country a "natural partner."New Zealand is one of 12 countries that have joined what is expected to emerge as the world's largest free trade block. US President Barack Obama has been pushing to ratify the pact before the end of his term. South Korea has yet to decide whether to join.Its actual implementation, however, faces uncertainty as key presidential candidates in the Uni

Oct. 25, 2016

Hungary commemorates 60th anniversary of 1956 revolution

The journal written by Hungarian librarian Gyula Csics vividly recounts the horrors of dictatorship and repression inflicted by the deceased Soviet Union. Csics -- who was 12 when the 1956 Hungarian Revolution broke out -- recorded events that unfolded from Oct. 23 to Nov. 10, when Hungarians fought and died to free their country from communist control. “Oct. 23, 1956, student demonstration: ... I was walking in the street when I saw three trucks carrying university students. They shouted, ‘Russ

Oct. 24, 2016

Turkey honors countrymen’s gallantry in Korean War

Marking the 66th anniversary of the Turkish Brigade’s arrival here to fight in the Korean War, the Turkish Embassy, the 55th Republic of Korea Infantry Division and the city of Yongin commemorated the sacrifices of Turkish soldiers last week. “When South Korea was invaded by the communist North in 1950, Turkey did not hesitate to join forces with the United Nations Coalition Forces to safeguard the country’s sovereignty, liberty and democracy,” said Turkish Ambassador to Korea Arslan Hakan Okcal

Oct. 24, 2016

‘Kazakhstan’s modernization boon to Korean investors’

Ahead of the scheduled visit of Kazakh President Nursultan Nazarbayev to Korea this fall, Kazakh vice minister of investment and development came to Seoul in mid-October to smooth bilateral ties and promote commercial opportunities in his country. Yerlan Khairov, the ministry’s No. 2 representative, had negotiations in Seoul with government officials, potential investors as well as companies that are operating in the Central Asian nation.“Korea has always remained a priority partner for Kazakhst

Oct. 24, 2016

Poland, Korea fete 27 years of economic partnership

The first contact between Polish and Korean government officials took place in late October of 1988 following the Summer Olympics hosted in Seoul. A series of meetings in Korea between the ministries of foreign affairs, trade and sports ripened the conditions for diplomacy, at a time when Poland was still a communist country and Korea a domineered democracy. Over the next 27 years, the two countries pushed forward their ties to become indispensable partners, sharing the commitment to human digni

Oct. 24, 2016

Chinese boats' overfishing dents squid haul in East Sea

South Korea's squid catch from the East Sea has been on a steady decline over the past four years due mainly to Chinese boats' overfishing, data showed Tuesday.According to the data by the National Federation of Fisheries Cooperatives, the amount of squid sold at its 18 cooperatives along the east coast came to 67,479 tons last year, slightly down from 67,941 tons the previous year.Squid catch from the East Sea amounted to 83,566 tons in 2012, but it slumped to 75,660 tons the following year.In

Oct. 18, 2016

China calls on S. Korea, U.S. not to raise tension with large-scale naval drills

South Korea and the U.S. should remain calm and self-controlled and not raise unnecessary tension in the region, China's defense ministry said on Monday of the recent large-scale naval drills by the two allies.The official comment, released on its account of the social media service Weibo, came as a response to a question from a reporter about the Chinese government's stance on the joint drills that involved the USS Ronald Reagan (CVN-76), a nuclear-powered aircraft carrier, in the waters near C

Oct. 17, 2016

Spain, Korea mark soaring ties in tourism, culture

The Spanish Embassy last Wednesday celebrated its National Day -- “Fiesta Nacional de Espana” -- amid a deepening alliance with Korea that spans over diplomacy, trade, tourism and culture. The holiday on Oct. 12 marks Italian explorer Christopher Columbus’ discovery of the New World in 1492, which occurred under the auspices of Spanish Catholic monarchs. Spain and Korea established diplomatic relations in 1950, and over the next 66 years pushed forward their ties based on a shared commitment to

Oct. 16, 2016

Thailand charts knowledge economy, courts Korean investment

BANGKOK -- Thailand, once perceived to be Southeast Asia’s low-cost manufacturing hub, aims to rebrand itself as the region’s leader in the knowledge-based economy. In line with the government’s “Thailand 4.0” restructuring initiative, Bangkok is transforming the country into an entrepreneurial hot spot of information and communication technology, culture and tourism, creative industries, smart farming and advanced manufacturing. In April, a delegation of seven Thai ministers led by Deputy Prime

Oct. 16, 2016

Bulgarian rock ‘n’ roll band makes a splash in Korea

The maxim of Bulgarian band Tube Hedzzz is to stay as close as possible to the rock ’n’ roll of the 1960s and 70s, a golden era epitomized by legends such as Jimmy Hendrix, Led Zeppelin, Grand Funk and Cream. Tube Hedzzz has for the last few years revitalized the spirit of this rebellious music, adapting it to the finicky, nonconforming tastes of the contemporary audience. The band has performed with renowned artists including Lili Ivanova, Blackstreet and Mystikal, and is making a splash everyw

Oct. 9, 2016

Hungary appoints honorary consul in Busan

The Hungarian Embassy extended its diplomatic outreach to Busan and the surrounding areas with the appointment of an honorary consul on Wednesday.In a ceremony at Dongseo University’s new Centum Campus, Hungarian Ambassador Gabor Csaba bestowed the exequatur issued by the Foreign Ministries of Hungary and Korea to Chang Je-kuk, 53, who has been the university’s president since 2011.Chang -- a Japan expert -- taught international relations at the university following his education in the US and J

Oct. 9, 2016

Germany celebrates reunification, integration and cooperation with Korea

Marking the 26th anniversary of national reunification, the German embassy celebrated Friday the country’s progress in integration following the fall of the Berlin Wall in November 1989, as well as international engagement, particularly with Korea. At a reception at the German ambassador’s residence in Seoul, the newly appointed envoy Stephan Auer, who started his post on Sept. 5, welcomed the visit of Michael Grosse-Broemer, Chief Whip of the Christian Democratic Union-Christian Social Union pa

Oct. 9, 2016

Envoys participate in Korean medicine fair

Foreign envoys and journalists pose at the Jecheon Korean Medicine Bio Fair in the city of Jecheon, North Chungcheong Province on Wednesday. (NDN News)Over 40 foreign diplomats in Korea and journalists from the Seoul Foreign Correspondents’ Club participated in the Jecheon Korean Medicine Bio Fair in the city of Jecheon, North Chungcheong Province, Wednesday. Jointly organized by the Jecheon municipal government and the Korean Cultural Ambassadors’ Friendship Association, the familiarization tou

Oct. 5, 2016

Dutch Prime Minister beckons young Koreans to Netherlands

Addressing a crowd of Korean university students, Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte said Wednesday that his country welcomes young global talents to study and work in the world’s leading innovation-driven economy. In a meeting at the Seoul Metropolitan Library, Rutte highlighted opportunities in the Netherlands, famous for its liberal society and innovative marketplace. “There is no hierarchy in the Netherlands,” he stressed in front of some 70 students at the bottom of the hall. Pointing up towar

Oct. 4, 2016