Moon’s Europe trip ushers Korean diplomacy into new era

President Moon Jae-in’s visit to Europe last month ushered in a pivotal moment for South Korea: His debut at the Group of Seven meeting signaled the country’s elevated status, on a par with the world’s wealthiest democracies. It also heralded the return of in-person diplomacy since the coronavirus pandemic forced the leaders to communicate virtually for more than a year. It was Moon’s second overseas trip since the pandemic, following his brief visit to Washington for a

July 4, 2021

[Contribution] Korea needs new diplomacy

As seen at the recent US-South Korea Summit and G7 Summit, Korea is an attractive country in terms of its advanced economies equipped with high technology, organized democracy, diverse cultural content, stable disease control systems, and strong military capabilities. Korea has accumulated its capabilities and built trust by creating something out of nothing in such a short period. Korea is gradually becoming a key member of the international community. However, Korea’s diplomacy is n

July 4, 2021

US awaits constructive response from Pyongyang for dialogue: State Dept.

WASHINGTON -- The United States hopes for a constructive response from North Korea as it remains willing to engage with the reclusive nation anytime and anywhere, a State Department spokesman said Thursday. The remarks from spokesman Ned Price come after the US special envoy for North Korea, Sung Kim, said his country is ready to meet with the North "anytime, anywhere without preconditions." "Ambassador Kim, our special envoy for the DPRK, has recently been in the Republic of Ko

July 2, 2021

US shortlists N. Korea among worst nations in trafficking of humans

WASHINGTON -- The United States has again shortlisted North Korea as a nation complicit in human trafficking and forced labor, an annual US report said Thursday. The North Korean regime is one of 11 governments with a "policy or pattern" of human trafficking, according to the Trafficking in Persons Report. North Korea was put on the shortlist of 12 countries in 2020 and again this year with 11 nations. "The 2021 Trafficking in Persons Report includes the following 11 government

July 2, 2021

S. Korea, UN office hold joint youth forum on disarmament, nonproliferation

South Korea and the UN disarmament office held a joint forum this week involving young people from around the world to discuss and raise awareness about disarmament and nonproliferation, the foreign ministry said Thursday. The two-day forum, which ended Wednesday, marked the first of its kind that South Korea and the UN office has co-hosted on the disarmament and nonproliferation issues for younger generations. Seoul has been championing the agenda, with last year's adoption by a UN committee

July 1, 2021

Vaccinated overseas arrivals exempted from two-week quarantine in Korea

People who have been vaccinated overseas against COVID-19 will be exempted from the mandatory two-week quarantine upon arrival in South Korea starting Thursday.  The new policy applies to Korean nationals and foreigners alike if they are entering Korea to do important business or serve the public interest, for academic or humanitarian purposes, or to visit immediate family.  Previously, Korea waived the self-isolation rule only for those vaccinated in Korea starting May 5.  To

June 30, 2021

Climate change expert named ambassador for environment cooperation

Kim Jung-wk, a professor emeritus at Seoul National University, has been named the ambassador for environmental cooperation, the foreign ministry said Wednesday. Kim, known for his expertise in climate change and environmental issues, will be tasked with promoting the government's key climate change policy initiatives, including the goal of going net-zero by 2050 in carbon emission, the ministry said. He will also work to support the country's diplomatic efforts in international cooperation re

June 30, 2021

US respects S. Korea's decision to bow out of multinational military drill: Pentagon

WASHINGTON -- The United States fully respects South Korea's decision to skip a multinational naval exercise, a Pentagon spokesman said Tuesday, also adding Seoul's decision does not affect the South Korea-US alliance in any way. "It's a sovereign decision by a nation state. And they're certainly entitled to make that decision and to speak to that decision and we absolutely respect it," the spokesman, John Kirby, said in a press briefing. South Korea earlier said it had been invited

June 30, 2021

French ambassador to address Generation Equality Forum in Paris

French Ambassador to South Korea Philippe Lefort will address the Generation Equality Forum, which runs June 30 to July 2 in Paris. Organized by UN Women and co-hosted by the governments of France and Mexico, the forum is said to be the largest women’s rights conference since the Fourth World Conference on Women in Beijing in 1995. On June 28, Lefort invited experts and diplomats to his official residence to celebrate the upcoming forum. Among those in attendance were Gender Equality A

June 29, 2021

[Herald Interview] Cultural, people-to-people ties will boost Korea-Kazakhstan ties

Strengthening people-to-people exchanges between South Korea and Kazakhstan is vital to furthering bilateral ties, according to Bakyt Dyussenbayev, Kazakhstan’s ambassador to Korea. “Trade and political cooperation are vibrant between Kazakhstan and South Korea, but strengthening people-to-people contact and public diplomacy had been yearslong vision of the Embassy of Kazakhstan in Seoul,” Dyussenbayev said. He added that the Kazakh-Korean society of culture, art and educat

June 29, 2021

FM Chung under COVID-19 isolation after coming in contact with infected person

Foreign Minister Chung Eui-yong has entered self-isolation after one of the passengers of a flight he took to return home from a Southeast Asian trip tested positive for the coronavirus, officials said Tuesday. Chung arrived home Saturday from Indonesia, the last leg of his weeklong visit to three Southeast Asian countries, including Vietnam and Singapore. On Monday, he was informed by the health authorities that one of the flight's passengers tested positive and that he was required to self-

June 29, 2021

US will send delegation to Tokyo Olympics but Biden will stay home: White House

WASHINGTON -- The United States will send a delegation to the Summer Olympic Games in Tokyo but President Joe Biden will stay home as the US continues to warn its people to reconsider visiting the Asian country, a White House spokeswoman said Monday. "The president is not planning to attend the games. He will certainly be rooting for the athletes, as well as I," said Jen Psaki when asked if Biden planned to personally visit Tokyo. "We will have a delegation from the United State

June 29, 2021

Deputy FM Kim Gunn appointed as new ambassador to Britain

Deputy Foreign Minister Kim Gunn was appointed as the new South Korean ambassador to Britain in a regular reshuffle on Monday, the foreign ministry said. Kim, a veteran diplomat, has served in posts handling North Korean nuclear issues, North America and China affairs, and his long experience is expected to help him play a role in promoting relations with London, the ministry said.  He was appointed as deputy minister in late 2019. Yeo Seung-bae, former ambassador to New Zealand who pr

June 28, 2021

S. Korea to take part in major US-Australia combined exercise next month

South Korea plans to take part in a large-scale naval exercise that the United States and Australia plan to hold next month, the defense ministry said Monday. The Navy will send a 4,400 ton-class destroyer to the Talisman Sabre exercise set to take place in mid-July in Australian waters. The biennial exercise is the largest bilateral training activity between the U.S. and Australia. "We've decided to join the exercise for the first time this year with a goal to improve our capabilities of

June 28, 2021

Top diplomats of S. Korea, Indonesia agree on close cooperation for joint fighter project

The top diplomats of South Korea and Indonesia agreed Friday to closely cooperate to smoothly proceed with joint fighter jet development and other mutually beneficial projects, the foreign ministry said. Foreign Minister Chung Eui-yong and his Indonesian counterpart, Retno L.P. Marsudi, held talks to discuss bilateral cooperation and regional and global issues. Indonesia was the last leg of his five-day trip to Southeast Asia that also included visits to Vietnam and Singapore. "The minis

June 25, 2021

S. Korea expresses 'deep regret' over IOC's response to Dokdo issue

The Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism expressed "deep regret" Friday over the International Olympic Committee's response to its letter protesting Japan's inclusion of South Korea's easternmost islets of Dokdo on a Tokyo Olympics map. According to the ministry, the IOC sent a reply to its June 10 letter on Tuesday, saying it had inquired with the Tokyo Olympics organizing committee regarding the appearance of Dokdo on a map of the Olympic torch relay route and was told that it w

June 25, 2021

S. Korea, Central American nations agree in summit to deepen comprehensive cooperation

The leaders of South Korea and eight Central American countries adopted a joint vision Friday for the development of comprehensive partnerships especially in the digital and environment-friendly sectors. The accord came at the first South Korea-Central American Integration System summit in 11 years. The regional group, widely known as SICA, consists of Belize, Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Nicaragua, Panama and the Dominican Republic. During the virtual session, President Moon

June 25, 2021

O’ Canada! Culture Week opens in Pyeongtaek

　Canadian Culture Week will open in Pyeongtaek, Gyeonggi Province, as part of Pyeongtaek World Culture Week on Saturday. The program will run until July 1. The Canadian Embassy in Seoul said this year’s events start with a Korean War memorial photo exhibition showcasing the 70th anniversary of the Battle of Gapyeong. The exhibition will also have a commemorative photo zone, at which visitors can try on ice hockey gear, and check out popular Canadian tourist destinations and books recom

June 25, 2021

Korea-US alliance remains linchpin of peace 71 years after start of Korean War: Pentagon

WASHINGTON -- The United States remains committed to the South Korea-US alliance, 71 years after the start of the Korean War, a Pentagon spokesman said Thursday, calling the alliance the "linchpin of peace" for the region and the world. Department of Defense spokesman John Kirby made the remarks as the allies mark the 71st anniversary of the start of the 1950-53 Korean War on Friday. "Tomorrow marks 71 years since the start of the Korean War. For the past 71 years our commitment

June 25, 2021

Seoul city OKs relocation plan of US embassy in Gwanghwamun to former USFK site

A key administrative process to relocate the US embassy building in Seoul was approved by city officials Thursday, opening the door for the beginning of the construction project that will close the embassy's half-century-old presence in the heart of the South Korean capital. The Seoul metropolitan government's city planning and construction committee approved the district units plan of the US embassy's new site in Yongsan-dong of Seoul's central Yongsan Ward. The current embassy building is lo

June 24, 2021