Oct 17, 2019   Diplomatic Circuit

S. Korean, ASEAN officials look ahead to special summit and stronger regional ties

BUSAN -- Ahead of the highly anticipated summit in Busan next month between the leaders of South Korea and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations, top officials from participating countries gathered in the southern port city Wednesday and voiced high expectations for the future of the relationship between South Korea and the ASEAN nations.South Korean Ambassador to ASEAN Lim Sung-nam, ASEAN-Korea Center Secretary-General Lee Hyuk, Busan Mayor Oh Keo-don and Myanmar Ambassador to South Korea

Oct 14, 2019   Diplomatic Circuit

[Diplomatic circuit] Colombia eyes bolstering exports to S. Korea: trade minister

Colombia’s Minister of Trade, Industry and Tourism Jose Manuel Restrepo said the country is keen to bolster South Korea-bound exports, stressing now is the time to reshape bilateral trade between the two nations. “Exports from Colombia (to Korea) are (valued at) $600 million. The number of exporters (from Colombia) is growing. On the other side, we have imports of Korea at around $800 million. This means the balance is against Colombia. But that balance improving,” Colombian Mi

Oct 14, 2019   Diplomatic Circuit

[Diplomatic circuit] German ambassador to Korea hopes for unity on Korean Peninsula

Ambassador Auer says dialogue was key to German unification

Oct 14, 2019   Diplomatic Circuit

[Diplomatic circuit] IVI urges international cooperation on R&D, distribution of vaccines

The International Vaccine Institute, an international organization based in Seoul, held a forum on its 22nd anniversary where the participants exchanged ideas on ways to boost global collaboration on research and development on vaccines and their delivery.“I hope for greater cooperation among IVI members and non-IVI members to expedite research and development, and distribution of vaccines,” International Vaccine Institute Director General Jerome Kim said in his welcoming speech.Abou

Oct 14, 2019   Diplomatic Circuit

[Diplomatic circuit] ASEAN-Korea train to traverse S. Korea

Top officials from ASEAN countries and South Korea will hop on a train to travel across the country alongside citizens of the participating countries. The event, marking the 30th anniversary of ASEAN-Korea dialogue, also aims to promote next month’s ASEAN-Korea summit in Busan, the organizers said Monday.“The program aims to promote people-centered connectivity between ASEAN and Korea under the overarching theme of People, Prosperity, and Peace. … The journey will be featuring

Oct 8, 2019   Diplomatic Circuit

[Herald Interview] S. Korea, Poland to work closely for nuclear energy, defense, cybersecurity: Polish FM

Amid South Korea’s strengthened economic relations with Poland, the European country is seeking to bolster cooperation in nuclear energy, defense and cybersecurity, Polish top envoy said.“South Korea is now our main economic partner in Asia. We are talking of increasing cooperation with Korean companies,” Polish Foreign Minister Jacek Czaputowicz told The Korea Herald in an exclusive interview in Seoul.“There is also potential (to cooperate in) in nuclear energy. Of cours

Oct 7, 2019   Diplomatic Circuit

[Contribution] Chilean Navy’s training ship Esmeralda visits Busan

The Chilean Navy’s training ship Esmeralda visited the Republic of Korea from Friday to Tuesday. This occasion constituted a source of personal satisfaction for me, because it brought back memories that stretch back in time along with my diplomatic career. I had received the vessel and its crew in different capacities in New York (1986), Wellington (1993), Singapore (1995), Bali (2002), Singapore again in 2012 and Busan in 2016. I often say that this magnificent ship has been present in so

Oct 7, 2019   Diplomatic Circuit

[Diplomatic circuit] Saudi Arabia opens doors to tourists from South Korea

Saudi Arabia will issue travel visas for South Koreans and citizens of 48 other countries as part of its Vision 2030, the Saudi Embassy in Seoul said.The visa issuance starting Sept. 27 comes amid a series of decisions to ease strict laws and regulations in one of the most conservative countries in the Middle East.“Saudi Arabia is now opening its doors to international tourists. We are expecting that the tourists from all around the world can enjoy the UNESCO World Heritage Sites, the Red

Oct 7, 2019   Diplomatic Circuit

[Diplomatic circuit] French ambassador, chamber of commerce highlight upcoming tech summit

The French Korean Chamber of Commerce and Industry and newly appointed French Ambassador to South Korea Philippe Lefort held a networking event for members of the FKCCI, highlighting the upcoming French-Korean tech summit, the FKCCI said. The event, the “FKCCI Networking Evening With the New French Ambassador to Korea,” took place Oct. 2 in central Seoul with roughly 80 FKCCI members and related officials in attendance.Its purpose was to give the French business community here a

Oct 7, 2019   Diplomatic Circuit

[Diplomatic circuit] Indian Embassy launches fifth ‘Sarang Festival’ to spread Indian culture

Ambassador Ranganathan says this year’s event pays tribute to 150th anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi’s birth

Oct 7, 2019   Diplomatic Circuit

[Diplomatic circuit] Korea Foundation launches Indonesia office

The Korea Foundation, a nonprofit organization under the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, has opened an office in Jakarta, marking its eighth overseas office aimed at promoting public diplomacy.The office in Indonesia will function as a hub for public diplomacy targeting Southeast Asian countries as part of the Moon Jae-in administration’s New Southern Policy. “Indonesia has a population of 260 million people, standing as the world’s fourth most populous country. It is the lar

Oct 7, 2019   Diplomatic Circuit

[Diplomatic circuit] British Council in Korea holds dance workshop for seniors

British community-dance professional Diane Amans led a dance workshop for seniors in Yecheon, North Gyeongsang Province, at the invitation of the British Council in Korea. The event held Sept. 25 to Oct. 2 aimed to promote healthy and “creative aging” through the arts as well as to foster arts programs here tailored for the older generation.“The British Council in Korea has held a number of arts projects by inviting UK professionals to share their inclusive approaches to arts.

Oct 1, 2019   Diplomatic Circuit

[Photo News] Learning about K-Food

Corea Image Communication Institution President Choi Jung-wha (first row, third from left), Russian Ambassador to South Korea Andrey Kulik (second row, fourth from left) and Singaporean Ambassador to South Korea Eric Teo (second row, sixth from left) pose at the Korea CQ forum, where some 25 participants learned about and tasted products made by traditional Korean beef jerky brand Jungyookpo. The event, hosted by CICI, was held Sept. 24 at SMT House in southern Seoul. (CICI)

Sep 30, 2019   Diplomatic Circuit

[Diplomatic circuit] Argentine Embassy seeks to enhance cultural ties with Korea

The Embassy of Argentina here held an opening ceremony for the Sala Mirtha Legrand hall and the launch of El Ciclo de Cine Argentino 2019 on Thursday, with an aim to strengthen cultural ties between Argentina and South Korea. “Films are a bridge connecting the two countries culturally. Just as diplomatic relations expand into trade and politics, films will also help form friendly ties. This is why we have decided to screen Argentinian movies,” Argentine Ambassador to South Korea Alfr