Finland, Korea mark innovation, education and tourism ties

The Finnish Embassy last week marked the 99th anniversary of national independence and thriving ties with Korea centered on innovation, education and tourism.Speaking at a reception in Seoul on Dec. 6, Finnish Ambassador to Korea Eero Suominen said Finland’s image here was “extremely positive,” as Koreans have taken note of its world-class education and innovation as well as the Nordic lifestyle and welfare system. “The relations between Finland and Korea are excellent,” the envoy said. He added

Dec. 13, 2016

‘Philippines offers stable, secure investment environ’

In part energized by Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte’s nationwide crackdown on crime and corruption, the Philippines’ business climate has become more stable and secure, according to its commercial bureaus. Duterte’s administration has laid out its 10-point socio-economic agenda aimed at shoring up macroeconomic conditions, international competitiveness, integration into regional and global value chains, rural development, human capital and innovative capacity. The Philippine economy grew a

Dec. 13, 2016

Nordic embassies advocate gender equality

The embassies of Denmark, Norway, Sweden and Finland hosted a forum last week to shine light on policies and experiences related to gender equality. The event, Policy Forum on Gender Equality: Cooperation Between Korea and Nordic Countries, was held at the Korea Press Center in Seoul on Dec. 5 and co-organized by Korea’s Ministry of Gender Equality and Family.Delving into policies aimed at utilizing female talents and breaking the glass ceiling, the seminar featured presentations by Pernille Rav

Dec. 13, 2016

Forum rouses entrepreneurial minds of ASEAN, Korea

The dream of Rendra Umbu Leha, an Indonesian student in Korea, is to improve his country’s health care system by commercializing prescription dispensing machines. “It takes a long time for patients in Indonesia to describe their problems to doctors,” Leha told The Korea Herald last week.“The machine would help them get accurate information about their health and facilitate medical services,” he added. “I believe it would also help fight corruption in our country, as the system would be transpare

Dec. 12, 2016

Pentagon expects 'policy consistency' in S. Korea after presidential impeachment

WASHINGTON (Yonhap) -- The US Defense Department said Friday that it expects "policy consistency and continuity" on various issues with South Korea in the wake of the impeachment of President Park Geun-hye.Pentagon spokesman Commander Gary Ross gave the comment in response to a question from Yonhap News Agency whether the impeachment could have any impact on the planned deployment of the THAAD missile defense system to the South."We look forward to working with Prime Minister Hwang in his new ca

Dec. 10, 2016

White House: Koreans acted 'peacefully with calm, responsibility'

South Koreans acted "peacefully, with calm and responsibility" in the run-up to the impeachment of President Park Geun-hye, the White House said Friday, reaffirming that the United States will remain a steadfast ally of Seoul."We are closely following events in the Republic of Korea. We note that throughout this time of political change, South Koreans have acted peacefully, with calm and responsibility, in the spirit of ROK democratic principles," Emily Horne, a spokesperson at the National Secu

Dec. 10, 2016

‘Mosul on path to liberation from Islamic State’

The siege of Mosul, a city in in Iraq held by the Islamic State extremist group, is making headway, and its recapture is “a matter of time,” a top Iraqi envoy to Korea said in late November.Speaking to journalists at the Iraqi Embassy in Seoul, Iraqi Ambassador Wadee B.H. al-Batti stressed that the ongoing onslaught by the Iraqi Army and US-led coalition forces had significantly weakened the IS group, adding the vital issue was safeguarding civilians. The battle for Mosul started on Oct. 17, bac

Dec. 5, 2016

US, Korea celebrate blooming friendship

The Korea America Friendship Society hosted an annual year-end reception Thursday, celebrating 66 years of military alliance and burgeoning trust and fraternity between the two countries. At the Millennium Seoul Hilton, KAFS President Han Chul-soo said despite North Korea’s growing nuclear threat and volatile peninsular circumstances, the two sides should further strengthen their alliance.“We have trusted each other and fought shoulder to shoulder in the Korean War, Vietnam War, Iraq War and the

Dec. 5, 2016

‘Ontario open for innovative enterprise, education’

In an era of slowing growth and closing borders, the province of Ontario, Canada, is open for innovative business and education, its chief politician said during a trade mission to Korea last week. Kathleen Wynne, the premier of Ontario, came to Seoul on Thursday with a delegation of 48 business and academic leaders, eager to shore up ties with Asia’s fourth-largest economy. Her mission is expected to generate over $120 million in new partnerships. She signed 13 new agreements in health sciences

Dec. 5, 2016

Defense chief renews calls for vigilance over N.K. threats

  South Korea's defense chief on Tuesday called on South Korean and U.S. troops to enhance their joint readiness to better cope with threats posed by North Korea.Defense Minister Han Min-koo made the comments during his first visit to a South Korean brigade in Dongducheon and the U.S. 2nd Infantry Division in Uijeongbu, both near the border with North Korea. The two units form the Republic of Korea-U.S. Combined Division.U.S. Forces Korea Commander Gen. Vincent K. Brooks also joined the inspecti

Nov. 29, 2016

US ambassador expects strong Seoul-Washington alliance under Trump

The decadeslong alliance between South Korea and the United States will remain intact and get stronger even after President-elect Donald Trump takes office next year, the US ambassador to South Korea said Tuesday.As Seoul and Washington have built up strong ties in the past 60-plus years, their bilateral alliance will remain firm and get stronger after the Trump administration's inaguration on Jan. 20, Mark Lippert said in a forum in Seoul.The alliance will remain intact based on the two countri

Nov. 29, 2016

EU promotes digital single market

The European Union is removing various hurdles to create a synchronized digital marketplace, and cooperating with Korea presents boons to both sides, a leading EU official said in mid-November. Andrus Ansip, vice president of the European Commission, told reporters at the EU delegation building in Seoul that the anticipated launch of a digital single market in the future would benefit consumers as well as companies small, medium and large. The ambitious scheme -- one of the EU’s top 10 policy pr

Nov. 29, 2016

Berlin’s Buddy Bear inspirits municipal ties

The Buddy Bear -- Berlin’s symbolic mascot epitomizing the once-divided city’s prospering unity, peace and openness -- was replicated in Seoul last week through municipal and diplomatic collaboration. The sculpture, standing 2 meters tall and decorated in bright yellow, was unveiled Nov. 21 in front of the Seoul Square building, where the German Embassy and many German companies are located. A token of Teutonic tolerance toward the world, the statue has been installed in front of numerous German

Nov. 29, 2016

‘South Africa brims with investment opportunities’

South Africa is a leading emerging market in the resource-rich, yet underinvested African continent. The only African country in G-20 and BRICS, an alliance of five major emerging economies Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa, the nation is Korea’s largest trade partner in Africa, with $2.6 billion in bilateral trade last year. Located at the foot of Africa, its market is increasingly plowed by Western companies, bent on shoring up their logistics capabilities to penetrate the continen

Nov. 29, 2016

Chinese expert: THAAD in Korea will be first target in case of China-US conflict

A former Chinese diplomat warned that the US anti-missile system to be deployed in South Korea could be the first target for a Chinese attack if conflict breaks out between the two superpowers. Yang Xiyu, a senior research fellow at the China Institute of International Studies, also said the installment of the Terminal High Altitude Area Defense system will bring a significant change to China's relations with South Korea, prompting Beijing to "re-think" the burgeoning bilateral partnership."The

Nov. 22, 2016