Korea’s electronic travel authorization takes effect

Korea Electronic Travel Authorization, or K-ETA, became effective as of Wednesday, requiring passport holders from visa-exempt countries to obtain K-ETA approval to enter the country. Overseas visitors now need to fill out an online application on the website of K-ETA to submit personal and travel information at least 24 before boarding a flight or ship bound for Korea. Applicants need to pay 10,000 won ($8.60). Once the application is submitted and payment is complete, the result will be se

Sept. 1, 2021

Ministry seeks to expand foreign aid by 17%

 South Korea’s Foreign Ministry said Wednesday the proposed 5.7 percent increase in its budget next year included a record amount set aside for foreign aid, as the country seeks to expand its role on the international stage.   　 The ministry sought an allocation of 3.02 trillion won ($2.61 billion) for 2022, up from this year’s 2.84 trillion won, in what would be a record high if approved by the National Assembly later this year.   　 It earmarked 1.11 trillion won,

Sept. 1, 2021

WHO chief welcomes S. Korea's push for regional cooperation forum against health crises

The head of the World Health Organization (WHO) said Wednesday he welcomes President Moon Jae-in's initiative for a regional cooperation forum to tackle public health crises, like the coronavirus pandemic. WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus made the remarks in his message for the Korean Global Forum for Peace, an annual forum organized by the unification ministry, calling on countries to "join hands across ideological divides." "We welcome the Northeast Asia Coopera

Sept. 1, 2021

S. Korea, China hold ceremony to casket 109 sets of Chinese troop remains

South Korea and China on Wednesday held a ceremony to casket the remains of 109 Chinese soldiers killed in the 1950-53 Korean War for their return to the homeland this week, the defense ministry said. The ceremony took place at an Army base in the western city of Incheon ahead of the repatriation of the remains -- discovered from former battle sites last year -- to China on Thursday, according to the ministry. The repatriation will be the eighth of its kind since Seoul pledged in 2014 to rep

Sept. 1, 2021

S. Korea asks for continued efforts to encourage N. Korea's participation at health security forum

South Korea has called for member countries of a regional health security forum to work together to encourage North Korea to take part in the forum on pandemics and other challenges, the foreign ministry said Wednesday. Second Vice Foreign Minister Choi Jong-moon made the appeal in a speech during a virtual working-level session of the Northeast Asia Conference on Health Security -- a forum launched late last year at President Moon Jae-in's suggestion to foster joint efforts to handle pandemics

Sept. 1, 2021

US remains firmly committed to dialogue with N. Korea: S. Korean envoy

The United States remains strongly committed to the denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula through diplomacy and dialogue, and is working closely with South Korea to bring North Korea back to the dialogue table, Seoul's top nuclear envoy said Tuesday. Noh Kyu-duk made the remark after holding a series of meetings with his US counterpart, Sung Kim, and other administration officials, including the White House policy coordinator for Asia, Kurt Campbell, during a visit to Washington this week.

Sept. 1, 2021

Door remains open for dialogue with N. Korea: White House

WASHINGTON -- The US remains willing to meet with North Korea anywhere and anytime, White House spokeswoman Jen Psaki said Tuesday. The spokeswoman noted the North, however, remains unresponsive to US overtures. "Well, we have left the door open and obviously reached out through our channels. I don't have an update for you in terms of any response to our offer," Psaki said in a daily press briefing, adding "(The) offer remains to meet anywhere, anytime without preconditions.&quo

Sept. 1, 2021

UN human rights experts send letter requesting S. Korea's position on controversial media bill

UN human rights experts have sent a letter requesting the South Korean government explain its position on a controversial media bill that calls for heavier punishments for fake news reports, the foreign ministry said Tuesday. The experts' move came after local human rights advocate groups, including the Transitional Justice Working Group, lodged an appeal with UN special rapporteurs to voice concerns that the legislation, being pushed for by the ruling Democratic Party, could undermine freedo

Aug. 31, 2021

Uzbekistan is reforming rendering public services system

The first step towards a new system Public services are becoming an integral part of every person's life. For example, every day citizens are faced with the need to obtain a child's birth certificate, place him in a kindergarten and then in school, receive different information, different licenses for starting a business and developing it. In Uzbekistan today, all these processes can be carried out in one place – at the Public Services Center. It all started on December 12, 2017 at the i

Aug. 31, 2021

Civil society reforms in Uzbekistan

Upon Shavkat Mirziyoyev’s election as president of Uzbekistan in 2016, the role of a robust civil society became the cornerstone of development for a new period in the country’s history. Radical reforms have embraced all aspects of our society‘s political and social life -- with nongovernmental organizations and civil society institutions the locus for reimagining the state’s role in our lives. With this purpose in mind, President Mirziyoyev presented a flagship program

Aug. 31, 2021

Development of the economy of Uzbekistan in the first half of 2021

The following article was contributed by the Embassy of Uzbekistan. - Ed. Despite the ongoing pandemic, the economy of Uzbekistan has reached record growth rates. According to the State Statistics Committee of the Republic of Uzbekistan, the gross domestic product for the first six months of this year increased by 6.2 percent. For comparison: Over the same period last year, due to the pandemic and lockdowns, the economy grew by only 1.1 percent, and in the first three months of 2021 -- 3 perc

Aug. 31, 2021

[Country Report] Cooperation between Uzbekistan and South Korea is developing in all areas

  It is a high privilege for me to address today the esteemed readers of The Korea Herald on the occasions of the 30th anniversary of Uzbekistan’s independence and 29th anniversary of establishment of diplomatic relations with the Republic of Korea. After gaining independence, Uzbekistan took a worthy place in the world community. Over the years, a great creative work has been carried out. Human honor and dignity are exalted, the well-being of people is ensured, appearance of our ci

Aug. 31, 2021

US continues to seek dialogue with N. Korea: White House

The United States continues to seek negotiations with North Korea to discuss a range of issues related to denuclearization, White House Press Secretary Jen Psaki affirmed Monday. Her remark comes after the UN nuclear watchdog said the North appears to have restarted its plutonium-producing nuclear reactor at Yongbyon. "We continue to seek dialogue with the DPRK so we can address this reported activity and the full range of issues related to denuclearization," Psaki said at a daily pr

Aug. 31, 2021

US stresses 'urgent need for dialogue, diplomacy' with NK after IAEA report

The United States on Sunday stressed the "urgent need for dialogue and diplomacy" with North Korea after the UN nuclear watchdog reported that Pyongyang appears to have restarted its plutonium-producing nuclear reactor. The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) said in a report to its board of governors that the five megawatt reactor at the North's Yongbyon nuclear complex has shown indications it has been in operation since July. "We are aware of this report. We are closely

Aug. 30, 2021

US not to take part in upcoming S. Korea-Britain naval exercise: defense ministry

The United States will not take part in the upcoming combined naval exercise between the South Korean Navy and a British aircraft carrier strike group, the defense ministry in Seoul said Monday. The joint training for humanitarian and disaster relief missions is scheduled to be held in waters off the Korean Peninsula on Tuesday, with the aircraft carrier HMS Queen Elizabeth, which is visiting South Korea as part of its seven-month world tour, taking part. Some local media reported that the US

Aug. 30, 2021

Nearly 7 in 10 S. Koreans support granting long-term stay visas to Afghan evacuees

Almost 70 percent of South Koreans support the government's plan to grant long-term stay visas to hundreds of Afghan civilians who fled their homeland to be sheltered here from the Taliban, a poll showed Monday. According to the poll of 500 people aged 18 and above conducted by Realmeter on Friday, a combined 68.7 percent of the respondents said they approve of the plan to issue long-term visas to Afghan evacuees who arrived here last week, allowing them to get jobs here. Among those who sup

Aug. 30, 2021

Yongbyon nuclear reactor appears to be in operation: IAEA report

The UN nuclear watchdog has detected "deeply troubling" indications that a key nuclear reactor at North Korea's main Yongbyon complex has been in operation since July, including the release of cooling water, an annual report showed Monday. Submitted to the International Atomic Energy Agency's Board of Governors on Friday, the report covered new developments of the five megawatt reactor, from which the North obtained spent fuel rods to extract plutonium -- a fissile material used for a

Aug. 30, 2021

Seoul's top nuclear negotiator arrives in Washington for talks on N. Korea

South Korea's top nuclear envoy arrived here Sunday for talks with his US counterparts on ways to resume dialogue with North Korea. Noh Kyu-duk's trip to Washington follows his US counterpart Sung Kim's visit to Seoul last week. "I believe we are now at a critical point to restart the Korean Peninsula peace process," Noh said of the reason for his US visit. "I came to Washington in order to continue the discussions I had with Special Representative Sung Kim in Seoul last week.&q

Aug. 30, 2021

S. Korea, Thailand agree on cooperation in health care, future industries, green technologies

The top diplomats of South Korea and Thailand agreed Friday to strengthen cooperation in future industries, health care and green technologies during their talks in the Southeast Asian country, the foreign ministry said. The talks between Foreign Minister Chung Eui-yong and his Thai counterpart, Don Pramudwinai, came as Seoul strives to advance its New Southern Policy aimed at deepening diplomatic and economic cooperation with the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN). At the talks,

Aug. 27, 2021

Remaining 13 Afghan evacuees arrive in South Korea

  The second and final group of Afghan evacuees who worked alongside the South Korean government arrived here on Friday, as part of Seoul’s mission to rescue civilians fleeing the war-torn country following the Taliban takeover.  The group of 13 Afghans onboard a C-130 military jet landed at Incheon International Airport at around 1 p.m., after leaving the Pakistani capital of Islamabad on Thursday, according to the Foreign Ministry. Their arrival came a day later than the first

Aug. 27, 2021