Seoul condemns Yasukuni visit as an 'anachronistic act'

South Korea's Foreign Ministry on Thursday strongly condemned the Japanese defense minister's tribute at the controversial Yasukuni Shrine, which Seoul views as glorifying Japan's militaristic past, calling it an "anachronistic act" and unfathomable behavior. Defense Minister Minoru Kihara's visit to the shrine in Tokyo occurred on the same day Korea commemorated its liberation from Japan’s illegal colonial rule, which lasted from 1910 to 1945. "Our gover

Aug. 15, 2024

[Hello India] India and S. Korea: Forging stronger ties for brighter future

As we commemorate the 77th anniversary of Independence Day for India, I extend my heartfelt greetings to all fellow citizens, the vibrant Indian diaspora in the Republic of Korea, and our esteemed Korean friends. This day also marks the 79th anniversary of Liberation Day for Korea, and I wish its people and government continued success, good health and prosperity. Over the years, the ROK has achieved impressive success across all fields of human endeavor, particularly advanced manufacturing, t

Aug. 15, 2024

Can South Korea, Japan move beyond historical disputes?

Seventy-nine years after Korea's liberation from Japan's colonial rule (1910-1945), the lingering scars of that turbulent history continue to cast a shadow over bilateral relations, complicating efforts to build future-oriented ties. Although historical disputes between South Korea and Japan remain unresolved, recent efforts by the Yoon Suk Yeol and Fumio Kishida administrations aim to move beyond the past and work towards the future, despite ongoing public debate over these initiative

Aug. 14, 2024

[Hello India] Telangana: Gateway for Korean companies to access India's market

Revanth Reddy, the chief minister of Telangana, a southern-central state in India with a population of nearly 40 million, in line with its "Future State" project, an urban development initiative focused on transforming the state into a smart, technologically advanced hub. Key projects under this initiative include the development of an AI City and Net Zero City, which are set to revolutionize urban living, he said as he sat down for an interview with The Korea Herald in Seoul on Monday

Aug. 14, 2024

Empowering through photography: Indian teenager collaborates with Seoul kids for photo exhibition

Young girls from Sundukwon, a child welfare center, showcased the vibrant life of Seoul through a photography exhibition on Friday. Aditi Kumar, a 17-year-old high school student from India, led an eight-week photography workshop that culminated the "Happy Seoul, Pause for a Cause" exhibition as part of an initiative empowering girls through photography. To fund the project, she sold eco-friendly tote bags featuring her photographs. The proceeds enabled her to purchase compact digital

Aug. 14, 2024

FM Cho rebuts criticism over 'humiliating' negotiations with Japan on Sado mines

Foreign Minister Cho Tae-yul on Tuesday rebutted the criticism that South Korea backed down in the negotiations with Japan regarding the UNESCO World Heritage listing of an old Japanese mine complex linked to wartime forced labor. Cho made the point during a parliamentary session as criticism persists over the way the government negotiated with Tokyo to demonstrate the Sado gold and silver mines as a site where more than a thousand Koreans were forcibly taken to toil during World War II. Critics

Aug. 13, 2024

[ASEAN Plus Korea] Philippines foreign minister says strategic partnership with S. Korea close

The Philippines and South Korea are on the verge of establishing a strategic partnership, said Philippine Foreign Minister Enrique Manalo in an interview with The Korea Herald on Thursday. Philippine Foreign Secretary Manalo was in Seoul to meet Prime Minister Han Duck-soo and South Korea's Foreign Minister Cho Tae-yul. The talks focused on expanding cooperation in areas such as supply chains and climate change. Both sides also emphasized the importance of maintaining peace, stability, an

Aug. 12, 2024

Samsung phones for N. Korean Olympians could breach UN sanctions: Seoul

The South Korean government on Thursday flagged that North Korea's receipt of Samsung-gifted smartphones, specially customized for all athletes competing at the 2024 Paris Olympics, could constitute a violation of UN sanctions. The International Olympic Committee has provided all athletes at the Paris Olympics with specially designed Olympic Edition Galaxy Z Flip6 smartphones from Samsung Electronics, an official event sponsor. The Unification Ministry in Seoul said the North Korean Olympic

Aug. 8, 2024

PM requests Philippines' support in sending message against NK provocations

Prime Minister Han Duck-soo met the Philippines' top diplomat Wednesday and asked for Manila's support in efforts to send a stern message against North Korea's provocations, his office said. Han made the request during talks with Philippine Secretary of Foreign Affairs Enrique Manalo in Seoul in the wake of North Korea's launches of thousands of trash-carrying balloons across the inter-Korean border since late May. "In order to ensure that North Korea does not undertake

Aug. 7, 2024

Harris chooses Minnesota governor as vice presidential running mate

US Vice President Kamala Harris on Tuesday announced the governor of Minnesota as her running mate for the Nov. 5 general election, capping a dayslong high-stakes selection process ahead of her tour through seven battleground states this week. Harris named Gov. Tim Walz, a former six-term lawmaker, social studies teacher and American football coach, as her vice presidential pick hours before they made their first joint appearance at a rally in Pennsylvania, the first leg of her five-day tour, am

Aug. 7, 2024

Japan rejected S. Korea's call to include term 'forced' in Sado mine exhibits

South Korea had proposed Japan use the expression "forced" in the museum exhibits on an old Japanese mine complex linked to its wartime forced labor of Koreans prior to its UNESCO inscription, but Tokyo refused, the foreign ministry said Tuesday. The ministry had made the call during the negotiations with Japan on the Sado gold and silver mines as a precondition for Seoul's consent to the site's listing as a UNESCO World Heritage, its response submitted to Rep. Lee Jae-jung o

Aug. 6, 2024

S. Korea imposes travel ban on Israel-Lebanon border region

South Korea's Foreign Ministry has imposed a travel ban on the Israel-Lebanon border region and issued a special travel advisory for Iran, effective from Wednesday, as tensions rise in the Middle East following the assassination of Hamas political leader Ismail Haniyeh in Tehran last week. The areas subject to the travel ban, which is the highest level in the four-tier travel advisory system, include the northern border region of Israel within 4 km of the Blue Line and the southern border r

Aug. 6, 2024

Pho festival to kick off in Seoul in October

A culinary festival dedicated to promoting Vietnam's trademark pho will be held in Seoul in October, the Business Association of Vietnamese in Korea announced in a press release Tuesday. The festival is to celebrate pho, a Vietnamese dish made from a fragrant broth, rice noodles, herbs and typically beef or chicken, and showcase the dish to Koreans, Vietnamese living in Korea and international tourists. According to BAViK, pho represents the heart of Vietnamese culture and the pinnacle of t

Aug. 6, 2024

Peru reaffirms support for Korea joining Pacific Alliance

Peru reaffirmed support for South Korea in the Pacific Alliance while celebrating its 203rd Independence Day in Seoul on Thursday. Peru’s Independence Day, which falls on July 28, commemorates Peru’s liberation from Spanish rule in 1821. Peruvian Ambassador Paul Duclos told The Korea Herald that the event was held to highlight his country's deepening ties with South Korea, while reiterating support for Korea's possible inclusion in the Pacific Alliance. "Peru fully sup

Aug. 6, 2024

S. Korea to provide $3 mln to 4 drought-hit African countries

South Korea will provide $3 million to four African countries to help them cope with the damage from severe drought, the Foreign Ministry in Seoul said Monday. Of the total, $1 million will each be delivered to Zimbabwe and Zambia, and $500,000 each to Malawi and Namibia, the ministry said. The aid will be made through the World Food Programme. The four countries have declared a national emergency as the severe drought hit the South African region and exacerbated food shortages. (Yonhap)

Aug. 5, 2024

Foreign ministry strongly urges S. Koreans in Lebanon, Israel to leave countries

The foreign ministry on Sunday strongly urged South Koreans residing in Lebanon and Israel to leave the countries as soon as possible amid escalating security concerns in the Middle East. Chaired by Second Vice Foreign Minister Kang In-sun, the ministry held a meeting to review the security situation in the Middle East and examine measures for the safe protection of South Koreans in the region. At the meeting, Kang strongly urged South Koreans residing in Lebanon and Israel to depart the nations

Aug. 4, 2024

Trump says he got people back from N. Korea amid attention on prisoner swap with Russia

WASHINGTON -- Former US President Donald Trump has highlighted that he brought back home some people held in North Korea during his presidency, as public attention shifted to a landmark prisoner swap deal that saw the release of 16 people from Russian captivity this week. In an interview with Fox Business on Thursday, Trump called the deal a "win" for Russian President Vladimir Putin, while President Joe Biden and his staff were credited with facilitating what was hailed as the largest

Aug. 3, 2024

Thailand's top diplomat requests S. Korea's support for smooth entry of Thai travelers

Thailand's top diplomat requested the South Korean government Friday to make it more convenient for Thai travelers to visit, the foreign ministry said, amid reports of negative sentiment within the Southeast Asian country due to Thai travelers being denied entry. The request was made during bilateral talks between South Korean Foreign Minister Cho Tae-yul and his Thai counterpart, Maris Sangiampongsa, in Seoul, the ministry said in a release. Since last year, stricter screening under the ne

Aug. 2, 2024

State Dept. decries NK trash balloons as 'reckless,' 'destabilizing'

A State Department spokesperson on Thursday criticized North Korea's sending of trash-carrying balloons to South Korea as a "reckless" and "destabilizing" act amid growing concerns about their impact on public safety in the South. Vedant Patel, the department's deputy spokesperson, made the comment as the North's balloons have been found in more than 3,300 locations in the South in recent months, including the presidential office in Seoul and Incheon Internatio

Aug. 2, 2024

S. Korea calls for restraint, diplomatic efforts to reduce Middle East tensions

South Korea expresses "deep concern" over the recent escalation of tensions in the Middle East and urges all parties to exercise restraint and seek diplomatic efforts to reduce tensions, the foreign ministry said Thursday. "Our government expresses deep concern over the recent sharp escalation of tensions in the Middle East," ministry spokesperson Lee Jae-woong said in a commentary. "We strongly urge all parties to exercise maximum restraint and hope that diplomatic effo

Aug. 1, 2024