Poland is modernizing its roads, railways, airports and seaports to be a “pan-European” transportation hub. The Central European powerhouse is well positioned for the European Union’s infrastructure policy ― the Trans-European Transport Network ― unveiled by the European Commission in January last year, aimed at boosting East-West and North-South linkages across the continent. Covering both passengers and freight, the ambitious initiative will close transport capacities between 28 member states,

Dec. 14, 2015

The United Nation’s World Happiness Report listed Denmark as the world’s happiest nation in 2013 and 2014, while it came in at third place behind Switzerland and Iceland this year. When Koreans think of the Nordic nation, they conjure up ideas of work-life balance, plentiful welfare and fancy lifestyles, an egalitarian utopia far from “Hell Joseon,” a phrase Korean youth have recently used to describe Korea’s structural malaise. In the same report, Korea was ranked 47th of 158 countries for this

Dec. 14, 2015

Marking one year of the Korea-Australia Free Trade Agreement that entered into force on Dec. 12 last year, the Australian Embassy held a press conference last week to reflect on the deal’s positive impacts and gauge potentials for growth. The comprehensive agreement covers a broad spectrum, including trade in goods and services, investment, technology and information sharing. Korea agreed to a 94 percent tariff reduction on goods imported and Australia consented to a 100 percent elimination.  (F

Dec. 14, 2015

France, which has Europe’s second-largest venture capital ecosystem, is vying to transform the entire country into a start-up incubator. The government of President Francois Hollande has unveiled an ambitious “French Tech” initiative backed with 215 million euros ($236 million) in funding, aimed at harnessing countrywide entrepreneurship and global competitiveness in the information communications technology, e-commerce and innovative industries, as well as med-tech, bio-tech and clean-tech sect

Dec. 14, 2015

With delays in the expansion project of the U.S. military base in Pyeongtaek, Gyeonggi Province, the relocation of the bulk of troops from central Seoul and other northern regions due to conclude in 2016 will take another year, the commander of the 8th U.S. Army said Thursday. Under the plan, initially slated to take place in 2008 but delayed until 2012, Camp Humphreys will be home to some 42,000 U.S. forces and their families as they shift in stages, said Lt. Gen. Bernard Champoux, who is also

Dec. 13, 2015

This is the ninth installment in a series of interviews with scholars and experts on China as a resurgent Asian power that is changing the regional order. This installment looks into China’s growing nationalism. -- Ed.　　　China has utilized growing nationalism for domestic purposes such as fostering national unity and reinforcing the governing legitimacy of the Communist Party, China expert Lee Dong-ryul said, calling its nationalism a “state-controlled” one.Lee Dong-ryulUnlike South Korea, the C

Dec. 8, 2015

South Korea was elected to chair a U.N. human rights panel for a year, Seoul’s Foreign Ministry said Monday, boosting the expectation that it would play a more influential role in enhancing North Korea’s woeful human rights conditions.  Amb. Choi Kyong-lim  MOFAThe election came as the member nations of the Human Rights Council supported South Korea by consensus, Seoul officials said. Ambassador Choi Kyong-lim, who heads the country’s permanent mission in Geneva, Switzerland, will serve as the c

Dec. 8, 2015

The literary wonders of late Danish author Hans Christian Andersen (1805-75) are unveiled to the public free of charge at the Seoul Museum of History until Feb. 21. A collaboration with the Odense City Museum in Denmark, the exhibition titled “I Belong to the World” showcases the classic writer’s artifacts, including his bed, manuscripts and hand-cut paper crafts, as well as artworks by Danish Queen Margrethe II and late American artist Andy Warhol (1928-87), who were inspired by Andersen.Visito

Dec. 7, 2015

The Korea America Friendship Society held an annual year-end party Thursday to reflect on the 65 years of military alliance that has safeguarded the prospering commercial and cultural links between the two countries. “The security and stability ensured by our alliance is the foundation for the strong partnership between the U.S. and Korea,” said the U.S. Embassy Deputy Chief of Mission Mark Knapper in a speech at the reception at Millennium Seoul Hilton. Also in attendance were the Deputy Comman

Dec. 6, 2015

Marking the silver jubilee of official ties with Korea, the Romanian Embassy held a National Day reception last Wednesday in Seoul, featuring joint performances by Romanian and Korean artists. Romanian musicians Grigore Lese and Zamfira Muresan and Korean artist Lee Kyung-hwa performed traditional songs and dances to accompaniment from wind and percussion instruments. Romanian musicians Zamfira Muresan (left) and Grigore Lese. Joel Lee / The Korea Herald“I have performed in many countries, and i

Dec. 6, 2015

The embassies of Bolivia, Ecuador, Nicaragua and Venezuela, in collaboration with the World Culture Open, celebrated the establishment of a regional organization with a promotional event dubbed “Hello! Alba-Latin America” in late November.The Bolivian Alliance for the Peoples of our America, or Alba, was founded by Cuba and Venezuela on Dec. 14, 2004, for the purpose of integrating Latin America and the Caribbean. Since then, Alba has acted as an institutional vanguard for human rights, public h

Dec. 6, 2015

The British Chamber of Commerce in Korea finished off a productive year with an annual Christmas luncheon in Seoul that attracted over 440 guests from 110 companies, including Santa Claus.“The party is a combination of British swankiness and waggishness,” Michael Breen, author, journalist and CEO of Insight Communications Consultants, told The Korea Herald, at the Four Seasons Hotel Seoul, where the event was held. Santa Claus entertains the participants at the British Chamber of Commerce in Kor

Dec. 6, 2015