ASEAN Connectivity to help integrate Southeast Asia

When the Association of Southeast Asian Nations launches its Economic Community in December, the region will boast a single market of $2.4 trillion and 620 million people. In line with the ASEAN Master Plan on Connectivity that aims to link its 10 member states physically, institutionally and socially, ASEAN needs over $3.3 trillion investment in infrastructure, transport, energy and information communications technology by 2030.Analysts note that the ambitious scheme presents vast opportunities

Oct. 25, 2015

Refugees part of Korea’s history

With risks and challenges faced by refugees across the world having become one of the greatest global issues today, the status and conditions of asylum seekers in South Korea have also been highlighted. The Korea Herald is publishing a series of articles shedding light on refugees in Korea, their hardships, the systematic fallout, the country’s own history and ways to go forward. The following is the third installment. - Ed.From late President Kim Dae-jung to conscientious objectors and North Ko

Oct. 25, 2015

‘China seeks social governance through NGO partnership’

This is the second installment in a series of interviews with renowned scholars and experts on China as a resurgent Asian power triggering shifts in the regional order. This installment looks into China’s social problems and policy efforts to address them. -- Ed.Over the last several years, the Chinese government has been paying notable policy attention to “social governance” in tandem with nongovernmental organizations to address an array of social issues including the public welfare, a sociolo

Oct. 20, 2015

Seoul’s dilemma deepens amid China-U.S. rivalry

Though Seoul had managed to boost prospects for greater U.S. attention to North Korea through last week’s summit, it highlighted an increasingly convoluted dilemma between its traditional ally and a rising China amid their intensifying rivalry for regional supremacy. The Park Geun-hye administration has been boasting that its bilateral relations with the U.S. and China are at their “best-ever.” After appearing alongside Chinese leader Xi Jinping at a massive military parade in Beijing last month

Oct. 19, 2015

[Newsmaker] Ju takes heat for failed tech transfer

President Park Geun-hye’s surprising personnel shake-up on Monday was widely seen as a move to reprimand her foreign affairs team for its failed mission to persuade the U.S. to transfer fighter jet technology to Korea.Park named Kim Kyou-hyun, the National Security Council secretariat chief, as her new senior presidential secretary for foreign affairs and national security. Kim replaces Ju Chul-ki, who had reportedly offered to resign to take responsibility for Washington’s refusal to transfer f

Oct. 19, 2015

German president hopes for Korean unification

German President Joachim Gauck urged Korea last week not to relinquish hope for national unification, providing hindsight based on Germany’s transformative developments since the fall of the Berlin Wall 25 years ago.Gauck arrived in Seoul on Oct. 11 for his first presidential trip to East Asia to mark the 25th anniversary of German reunification. He held meetings with Korean diplomatic, political, business and civil communities during his four-day stay. Elected as the 11th head of state in March

Oct. 18, 2015

South African film shines light on apartheid

“Apartheid,” a system of racial segregation in South Africa from 1948 to 1994, meant “the state of being apart,” literally “apart-hood” in Afrikaans. Following the creed enforced by the country’s then-governing political group the National Party, apartheid separated the multiethnic state, communities and families of South Africa, gating white privilege while downgrading black and minority rights. The South African embassy, in collaboration with the Korean Cultural Association, held a film screen

Oct. 18, 2015

Bulgarian idol singer expounds hallyu boom

Miryan Kostadinov, 23, is a Bulgarian singer, songwriter and guitarist with ambitions bigger than life. A popular idol singer in his country, he wants to be a global pop star with songs he composed. Last year, he appeared on national television show “X Factor,” a music contest among aspiring artists similar to “American Idol,” where he had already finished sixth place. Capitalizing on the success, he signed a gentlemen’s agreement with indie-pop label Homeovox Music. Bulgarian singer, songwriter

Oct. 18, 2015

[Newsmaker] German politician stabbed in 'racist' attack

A German mayoral candidate active in helping refugees was seriously wounded on Saturday in what police described as a stabbing with a “racist, political” motive, heaping further pressure on Chancellor Angela Merkel over the migrant crisis.　The German leader expressed her “shock” over the attack in the western city of Cologne which left mayoral hopeful Henriette Reker with serious neck wounds.　The stabbing comes as Merkel prepares to travel to Istanbul on Sunday for talks on the crisis with Turki

Oct. 18, 2015

Spain marks national day amid economic recovery

The Spanish embassy last Monday marked its national day ― “Fiesta Nacional de Espana” ― within a scope of deepening engagement with Korea over trade, tourism, investment and culture. The holiday, which falls on Oct. 12, celebrates Christopher Columbus’s discovery of the Americas in 1492. This year is also the 65th anniversary of established ties between Madrid and Seoul in diplomacy. Spanish Ambassador Gonzalo Ortiz (left) raises his glass with his wife Ana Ortiz and daughter Laura Ortiz at the

Oct. 18, 2015

Park faces tasks after U.S. trip

President Park Geun-hye returned to Seoul on Sunday from her four-day trip to the U.S. with a set of diplomatic achievements such as obtaining Washington’s stronger commitment to North Korea’s denuclearization and its support for her initiatives for unification and regional peace.President Park Geun-hye shakes hands with Vice Foreign Minister Cho Tae-yong after her arrival at Seoul Airport in Seongnam, Gyeonggi Province on Sunday. (Yonhap)Her trip also helped ease the growing impression that Seo

Oct. 18, 2015

Japan PM offers gift to Tokyo war shrine

Japan's Prime Minister Shinzo Abe Saturday made a ritual offering to the controversial Yasukuni war shrine seen by neighbouring countries as a symbol of Tokyo's militarist past.Abe donated a sacred "masakaki" tree bearing his name as prime minister to coincide with the start of the four-day autumn festival at the shrine in central Tokyo, a shrine official said. Visitors look at a "masakaki" tree dedicated by Japanese Prime Minsiter Shinzo Abe to the controversial Yasukuni Shrine for its autumn f

Oct. 17, 2015

Korea, U.S. renews alliance to deter NK

WASHINGTON -- South Korean President Park Geun-hye and her U.S. counterpart Barack Obama on Friday adopted a joint statement on North Korea, renewing their strategic alliance to effectively contain its nuclear ambitions and provocations.During a summit held at the White House, the highlight of Park’s four-day trip to Washington, the two leaders also reaffirmed their bilateral partnership and agreed to upgrade their ties for shared economic prosperity and regional peace. Joint efforts, alongside

Oct. 17, 2015

TPP would benefit businesses of South Korea, U.S.: Park

WASHINGTON ― President Park Geun-hye said Thursday that both Korean and U.S. businesses could enjoy benefits of the Trans-Pacific Partnership if Seoul becomes a part of it.“If South Korea, which established free trade agreements with mega economic blocs like the EU and China, joins the TPP, it could deliver more benefits to companies from both countries,” she said in a speech delivered at the U.S. Chamber of Commerce in Washington.She was expressing her keen interest in joining the TPP for the f

Oct. 16, 2015

Park visits Pentagon, hails alliance

WASHINGTON ― South Korean President Park Geun-hye’s first visit to the Pentagon on Thursday morning underscored her commitment to Seoul’s alliance with the U.S. before she sits down for a summit at the White House.Park’s visit to the military superpower’s core defense organ was seen as a way to show off their bilateral ties and that they remain unshaken by growing concerns over Seoul inclining toward Beijing. President Park Geun-hye and U.S. Secretary of Defense Ashton Carter walk down stair at

Oct. 15, 2015

WFP urges Korea’s continued support in Afghanistan

The country director of the World Food Program in Afghanistan, Claude Jibidar, visited Korea this week to express appreciation and rally continuing support for humanitarian and food relief programs. During his four-day visit ― from Tuesday to Friday ― Jibidar met officials from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Korea International Cooperation Agency and the National Assembly, and updated them on the operational progress.He also attended a photo exhibition titled “Our vision for zero hunger” at th

Oct. 15, 2015