By Sanjay Kumar Korea Herald correspondent NUR-SULTAN, Kazakhstan — Kazakh citizens on Sunday gave overwhelming support to proposed constitutional democratic reforms, with nearly 80 percent voting for change in the referendum. The Central Election Committee said Monday that 77.18 percent of ballots cast were in favor of the amendments aimed at shifting from former strongman Nursultan Nazarbayev’s “super-presidential” rule to a presidential republic, decentralization of

Diplomatic Circuit June 8, 2022

Vietnam is creating a business environment for Korean companies to make long-term investments, said Vietnamese Ambassador to Korea Nguyen Vu Tung at the second edition of the Global Biz Forum hosted by The Korea Herald in Seoul on May 25. “Vietnam will continue to strengthen ties with Korean companies and solidify its position as a responsible and important hub in regional and global value chains,” said Tung, stressing that Vietnam will implement solutions such as system and adminis

Diplomatic Circuit May 31, 2022

Colombia is celebrating the 60th anniversary of bilateral relations with South Korea and 40th anniversary of the Seoul-Bogota sisterhood in cultural events. As part of the celebrations, the Colombian Embassy in Seoul is co-hosting cultural events with the Seoul Metropolitan Government on the sidelines of Colombia’s participation as a guest of honor at the Seoul International Book Fair, to be held from Wednesday through Sunday. The embassy will host a performance of “Mural Project

Diplomatic Circuit May 30, 2022

Uzbekistan has announced that it will host the International Week of Ziyorat Tourism every autumn, the Uzbek Embassy in Seoul said in a press statement Thursday. The embassy said Uzbekistan cabinet ministers adopted a resolution focusing on measures to hold a Ziyorat Tourism week with the aim to make the annual event an easily reachable pilgrimage tour to showcase features that make Uzbekistan one of the most important centers of world civilization. According to the statement, Uzbekistan will

Diplomatic Circuit May 28, 2022

The Azerbaijan Embassy in Seoul on Tuesday celebrated Independence Day, ahead of the national holiday on May 28, and the 30th anniversary of Azerbaijan-Korea diplomatic relations at Four Seasons Hotel in Seoul. Delivering opening remarks, Azerbaijani Ambassador to Korea Ramzi Teymurov discussed Azerbaijan Independence Day, the history of Azerbaijan Democratic Republic and significant achievements made during the period. Outlining his country’s recent history -- from becoming the first d

Diplomatic Circuit May 26, 2022

The Environmental Defense Fund signed a new agreement with Seoul National University’s Graduate School of Environmental Studies to study where and how much methane escapes from the nation’s gas delivery system in Seoul on May 23.  Under the agreement, EDF and SNU will facilitate dialogue and collaboration between scientists, academics, industry members and policymakers on methane studies, energy policy, and detection of methane in the urban gas distribution network. SNU and ED

Diplomatic Circuit May 26, 2022

Estonian Ambassador to Korea Sten Schwede and The Korea Herald CEO Choi Jin-young on Monday agreed to facilitate business and innovation in accelerating digital transformation. The ambassador said Estonia is keen on solidifying digital innovation with Korea’s private sector and exploring future prospects. Schwede said at least 2,000 Koreans have registered for Estonia’s e-Residency -- a government-issued digital identity and status that provides access to Estonia’s business

Diplomatic Circuit May 25, 2022

The Korea Herald CEO Choi Jin-young (left) paid a courtesy visit to Chinese Ambassador to Korea Xing Hai-ming and discussed emerging areas of cooperation Friday. Choi and Xing expressed hope to strengthen and diversify industries and media cooperation between China and Korea. (The Korea Herald)

Diplomatic Circuit May 24, 2022

Korea’s cultural and creative small and medium enterprises have been able to mobilize a whole country thanks to the public sector’s technical and financial support, and is a role model for Mexico, said Mexico’s Culture Minister Alejandra Frausto Guerrero. “We need to learn from Korea,” Frausto Guerrero said during an interview with The Korea Herald Tuesday. Saying that Mexico should learn about programs and methodologies to secure technological and innovative ski

Diplomatic Circuit May 24, 2022

Economic security is of particular importance to Germany and Korea for future cooperation, German Ambassador to Korea Michael Reiffenstuel said at the second edition of The Korea Herald’s Global Business Forum on May 18 in Seoul. Reiffenstuel pointed to how the COVID-19 pandemic, semiconductor shortage and urea crisis upended the interconnectivity and vulnerability of trade. “We will need to recalibrate our approach to certain trade and supply chain issues,” said Reiffenstue

Diplomatic Circuit May 24, 2022

Some said that “travel has seven benefits” but when traveling to Korea, these benefits are magnified. The reason for this is that South Korea is one of the richest cultures in far East Asia and its people are some of the most exemplary when it comes to dedication and productivity. As a society, South Korea has a collective ambition of developing and enhancing technology. The first thing a visitor will notice after getting off the plane is how Koreans love order. No matter where you

Diplomatic Circuit May 23, 2022

To commemorate Bulgarian alphabet day, the Bulgarian embassy in Seoul, Bulgaria’s Education and Culture Ministry and Busan metropolitan city is co-hosting an exhibition titled “The Letters of Bulgaria - Alphabet of Europe.” The exhibition runs from May 16-30 and aims to introduce ancient Cyrillic script, which originated in the ninth century. According to the Bulgarian embassy, visitors will be able to Cyrillic-inspired art, learn how Bulgaria helped spread Orthodox Christi

Diplomatic Circuit May 22, 2022

Mongolia‘s Deputy Foreign Minister Munkhjin Batsumber received North Korean ambassador to Mongolia O Sung-ho in Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia on Friday and expressed the importance Mongolia attaches to promoting relations with North Korea. Mongolia said it was ready to assist North Korea in the North’s efforts to fight against COVID-19, either through bilateral or multilateral arrangements. North Korean ambassador to Mongolia O Sung-ho applauded the offer and expressed willingness to work

Diplomatic Circuit May 21, 2022

Constitutional reform in Kazakhstan will facilitate expansion of citizen participation in governance and ensure genuine democratization of political processes, Kazakhstan’s ambassador to Korea said Tuesday. Speaking at a roundtable on constitutional reform via video conference, Kazakh Ambassador Bakyt Dyussenbayev said that the planned reform -- up for a referendum on June 5 -- will transform his country’s political system. The online roundtable discussed the referendum on consti

Diplomatic Circuit May 18, 2022

El Salvador and South Korea should enhance cooperation in a digital ecosystem and prepare for the future, the Salvadoran ambassador and The Korea Herald CEO Choi Jin-young said in a meeting on Monday. During a visit to The Korea Herald on Monday, El Salvador Ambassador to South Korea Jaime Jose Lopez Badia, The Korea Herald CEO Choi Jin-young and The Korea Herald Vice President Shin Yong-bae exchanged views on the need for developing businesses, a safety framework, a decentralized media pl

Diplomatic Circuit May 17, 2022