The Korea Herald

Korea, Japan hold talks on 'comfort women' issue

South Korea and Japan opened another round of talks Tuesday to resolve the issue of Korean women forced into sexual slavery for Japanese soldiers during World War II. The issue of the so-called comfort women has been a major thorn in bilateral ties and the two countries' leaders agreed last month to accelerate negotiations for a swift solution. On Tuesday, the two sides met in Tokyo for the 11th session led by Lee Sang-deok, director-general of the South Korean Foreign Ministry's Northeast Asi

Dec. 15, 2015

Seoul to offer aid to Honduras, Guatemala hard hit by climate change

South Korea will provide Honduras and Guatemala with $550,000 in humanitarian aid as the countries are troubled by frequent disasters caused by climate change, the Foreign Ministry announced Tuesday. The government has decided to offer $300,000 to Honduras, which is reeling from the worst drought in half a century. Around 13 million people, 15 percent of the nation's population, are facing a food crisis. South Korea will also deliver humanitarian assistance worth $250,000 to Guatemala, which i

Dec. 15, 2015

Sierra Leone seeks Korea's help in reconstruction plans

Sierra Leone has asked for more participation from South Korean firms in its reconstruction efforts following the Ebola outbreak, the Foreign Ministry said Tuesday. Sierra Leonean Vice President Victor Foh delivered the request to Foreign Minister Yun Byung-se when they met Monday during Foh's five-day visit to South Korea. "Vice President Foh assessed the high quality of roads and bridges that our firms have built in Sierra Leone and asked that South Korean businesses make full use of the eco

Dec. 15, 2015

S. Korea, Laos agree to work closely on hydropower project

South Korean Prime Minister Hwang Kyo-Ahn and his Lao counterpart, Thongsing Thammavong, agreed Monday to work closely on a hydropower project in the Southeast Asian country, a South Korean official said.The two sides had planned to sign a deal on the development of Sepon III hydropower plant at their meeting, though they failed to ink the deal due to differences.The two sides remain at odds over which country will build a road leading up to the power plant, among other things.Still, Hwang and T

Dec. 14, 2015

S. Korea to continue efforts for talks with N. Korea: minister

South Korea won't give up efforts to improve ties with North Korea despite a failure to strike a deal in their latest talks, a top official said Monday.Unification Minister Hong Yong-pyo said the government will "leave the door for dialogue open and continue efforts for the development of South-North relations and peace on the Korean Peninsula on a step-by-step basis."He was speaking at a parliamentary forum on the feasibility of a second inter-Korean industrial complex.The two Koreas had two da

Dec. 14, 2015

Poland awaits investment as Europe’s transport hub

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

Poland awaits investment as Europe’s transport hub

Keys to happiness in Denmark

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

Australia, South Korea mark free trade pact anniversary

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

Australia, South Korea mark free trade pact anniversary

France to transform as global tech hub

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

Korea-New Zealand FTA to enter force on Dec. 20

The New Zealand Chamber of Commerce in Korea, known as “The Kiwi Chamber,” marked the upcoming entry into force of the Korea-New Zealand Free Trade Agreement last week. The comprehensive deal, which will come into effect on Dec. 20, is expected to boost bilateral trade significantly, valued at $2.85 billion currently.Since 2009, the chamber has assisted both the government and business communities for the FTA. Removed tariffs on manufactured goods are expected to provide large benefits to Korean

Dec. 14, 2015

U.S. troop relocation to take one more year

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

U.S. troop relocation to take one more year

FM Yun to meet Sierra Leone's vice president

Sierra Leone's Vice President Victor Foh will visit South Korea next week to explore ways to broaden bilateral ties in various sectors, Seoul's Foreign Ministry said Friday.Foh is scheduled to arrive in Seoul this weekend for a four-day stay.South Korea's top diplomat, Yun Byung-se, plans to meet him on Monday to exchange views on how to promote the relations boosted by South Korea's aggressive support for the African nation in its fight again the Ebola virus.Sierra Leone was one of the worst Eb

Dec. 11, 2015

Seoul, Tokyo to hold talks on 'comfort women' issue

South Korea and Japan will have another round of talks next week on the issue of Korean sex slaves during World War II, the Foreign Ministry announced Friday.The two sides plan to hold the working-level meeting in Tokyo on Tuesday.It will mark the 11th session of their formal negotiations, launched in April last year, on Japan's sexual enslavement of hundreds of thousands of Korean women for its frontline troops during the war.South Korea is demanding a formal apology from Japan for the atrocity

Dec. 11, 2015

Seoul protests disclosure of Yasukuni suspect’s identity

South Korea on Thursday filed a formal complaint to Japan about the local media disclosing the face and full name of a Korean man accused of being responsible for a small blast at the Yasukuni Shrine last month.The Foreign Ministry filed the complaint via a diplomatic channel in the morning, said spokesman Cho June-hyuck, a day after 27-year-old Jeon was arrested at Haneda Airport in Tokyo. Both his face and his name have been fully revealed by Japanese media, while Korean media blurred out his

Dec. 10, 2015

Japanese police arrest Korean suspect of Yasukuni bombing

Japanese police Wednesday arrested a 27-year-old Korean man suspected of having triggered a small explosion in a restroom at the Yasukuni Shrine in Tokyo last month, according to Japanese reports.The man, identified by his surname Jeon, denies the charges, reports said. Jeon was arrested on charges of “intruding in the shrine without a valid reason” as soon as he landed at Haneda Airport in Tokyo on the day. Seoul’s Foreign Ministry sent a consul to meet him and provide any necessary government

Dec. 9, 2015

‘China has used nationalism for domestic purposes’

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

‘China has used nationalism for domestic purposes’

Korea elected to chair U.N. human rights panel

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

Korea elected to chair U.N. human rights panel

H.C. Andersen’s works showcased at exhibition

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

H.C. Andersen’s works showcased at exhibition

U.S., Korea celebrate robust defense alliance

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

U.S., Korea celebrate robust defense alliance

Romania, Korea mark silver jubilee with music

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

Romania, Korea mark silver jubilee with music