Philippine embassy opens cultural office

PHILIPPINE CULTURAL PROMOTION -- Sentro Rizal Seoul, a cultural promotion office in Philippine diplomatic missions worldwide, was inaugurated in the Philippine Embassy in Seoul on March 6. Established in 2009 as a national heritage, Sentro Rizal is dedicated to promoting Filipino culture, arts and language. In the picture (from left to right) are Seoul Global Center director Paul Carver, Seoul Culture Association president Jeong Jae-min, Philippine Ambassador Raul S. Hernandez, National Commissi

March 20, 2016

Dominica honors ex-Korean ambassador

Dominican Republic Ambassador Grecia Fiordalicia Pichardo honored Park Dong-sil, former Korean ambassador to the Caribbean nation, last week for strengthening bilateral ties. In a ceremony on Wednesday, Park was awarded “the Order of Merit of Duarte, Sanchez and Mella,” conferred by the Dominican Republic president to individuals who have performed distinguished services. Park, currently the Korean ambassador to Morocco, served as an envoy to the Dominican Republic from 2011 to 2014. The award i

March 20, 2016

Ireland, Korea mark historic, economic ties

The Irish Embassy last week celebrated St. Patrick’s Day and the centenary of the Easter 1916 Uprising that led to the country’s independence from Britain in 1922. At a reception at Grand Hyatt Seoul on Tuesday, Irish Ambassador Aingeal O’Donoghue said the uprising was “a pivotal moment” in Irish history for national liberation. “Hundred years ago, the world was a very different place. Ireland was still under British rule, Korea was under Japanese rule and Europe was ravaged by devastating war,”

March 20, 2016

Media scholar talks about digital, social revolution

In the digital age, journalists who are jacks-of-all-trades will be increasingly valued, a renowned media scholar said, stressing that quality content is increasingly prized and reporters need to differentiate their work.“Journalists will need more skills, because readers already know what happened from an array of sources,” Alfred Hermida, director and associate professor at the University of British Columbia Graduate School of Journalism, told The Korea Herald last week. “Being a good journali

March 20, 2016

Greenland enchants Korea with ice, fur and seafood

A delegation of Greenlandic government officials and businesspeople, led by Vittus Qujaukitsoq, minister for industry, labor, trade and foreign affairs, visited Korea last week to promote interest in tourism, fashion and food. “Greenland as a beautiful tourist destination with its proud tradition of craftsmanship in fashion and design will be attractive to Koreans,” Danish Ambassador Thomas Lehmann said in a speech at a seminar at the Shilla Seoul on Wednesday.Representatives from Visit Greenlan

March 20, 2016

Japanese textbooks intensify Dokdo claim

The Japanese government on Friday approved a set of updated high school textbooks containing strengthened claims to Korea’s easternmost islets of Dokdo, casting a fresh cloud over Seoul’s efforts to put bilateral ties back on track. Seoul lodged a protest, calling the long-festering assertion “unjust” and urging Tokyo to correct its erroneous historical view and provide fact-based education. Hideo Suzuki, a minister at the Japanese Embassy, was called in by Chung Byung-won, director general for

March 18, 2016

Japanese textbooks intensify Dokdo claim

The Japanese government on Friday approved a set of updated high school textbooks containing strengthened claims to Korea’s easternmost islets of Dokdo, casting a fresh cloud over Seoul’s efforts to put bilateral ties back on track. Seoul lodged a protest, calling the long-festering assertion “unjust” and urging Tokyo to correct its erroneous historical view and provide fact-based education. Hideo Suzuki, a minister at the Japanese Embassy, was called in by Chung Byung-won, director general for

March 18, 2016

Yun warns of worsened Chinese ties

Foreign Minister Yun Byung-se on Monday warned of deteriorated relations with China this year as the two nations face tensions over the planned stationing of advanced U.S. missile defense assets and Beijing’s support of peace treaty discussions with North Korea.In his opening speech at an annual meeting of chiefs of overseas diplomatic missions, however, he offered an upbeat outlook for an unprecedented gathering with the U.S. and China “in the near future.” Despite concerns over a raft of poten

March 14, 2016

[HERALD INTERVIEW] Sri Lanka touts South Korea as ideal investment partner

Moving past three decades of civil war, Sri Lanka is transforming itself into a vibrant commercial hub in South Asia, and reengaging the international community and furthering bilateral ties are key, the nation’s top envoy said.“As Korea has made miraculous progress in democracy and economy in such a short period of time, it is an exemplary model for Sri Lanka, which is starting its journey toward economic prosperity,” said Foreign Minister Mangala Samaraweera in an interview with The Korea Hera

March 14, 2016

Malaysia welcomes investment in medical devices

Malaysia is aiming to become a regional leader in health care as it pushes its industrial economy toward a knowledge-based one. Under the 11th Malaysia Plan for national development (2016-20), the medical device industry was identified as key to rapid growth alongside the aerospace, chemical, electronics and machinery sectors. Due to its strong links to manufacturing and capacities to deliver high-value-added goods, the industry is poised to lead Malaysia’s economy, which has grown at around 5 p

March 14, 2016

Indonesia streamlines investment process

The Indonesian Embassy held a seminar in early March to woo Korean investments into the country’s burgeoning economy, which has seen sweeping reforms in recent months.Under the administration of President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo, Indonesia has undertaken a series of stimulus measures, aimed at boosting industrial competitiveness through deregulation, facilitating infrastructure projects and strengthening law enforcement.The government recently overhauled its “negative investment list” -- a catalog

March 14, 2016

Ethiopia, Korea cooperate on forestry

A delegation of Ethiopian environment officials came to Korea in early March to share knowledge and experience in forest management and sustainable development. Shiferaw Teklemariam, Ethiopian minister of environment, forest and climate change, told The Korea Herald that his team was interested in Korea’s policies, institutions and governance, and how they were practically implemented.Amid Ethiopia’s push to become an industrializing nation, forestry is one of the four pillars of development und

March 13, 2016

[Graphic News] Not forgetting sex slavery victims

U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon on Friday in New York met with an elderly South Korean victim of Japan’s wartime sexual slavery. It was the first such meeting since Ban took the post in 2006.Ban met with 89-year-old Kil Won-ok at the U.N. headquarters, saying he respects her efforts to raise awareness of the wartime crime to make sure there will be no recurrence.The meeting came amid persistent protest over the landmark agreement in December between South Korea and Japan on resolving the sexu

March 13, 2016