The Korea Herald

Colombian independence reception teems with festive music, dance

The Colombian Embassy celebrated the country’s 205th anniversary of national independence and 53 years of diplomatic ties with Korea in a reception at Grand Hyatt Seoul on Tuesday, which was jazzed up by vivacious Latin music. “El Combosabroso,” a quintet of three Colombian and two Korean musicians, played salsa, merengue and bachata, which was met by the elated dancing of 2015 Colombian Carnival Queen Felfle Fernandez de Castro and other guests. “Our relations go beyond formalisms that characte

July 26, 2015

Colombian independence reception teems with festive music, dance

Inside the Habib House

Robyn Lippert, wife of U.S. Ambassador Mark Lippert, is well-known here as “Sejun’s mom,” one of the great examples of her having earned the hearts of South Koreans enthralled by the dedication the couple has shown to fit in.　Since arriving in Seoul pregnant last year, she has been playing a crucial part in her husband’s people-to-people diplomacy, setting her image as humble and open-minded -- a far cry from what many have seen through local magazines depicting the elegant lives of foreign envo

July 24, 2015

[REPORTER’S COLUMN] Japan needs to focus on confidence-building

For a country’s external policy to fare well, it needs sufficient backing from both within and outside. It is particularly so when it comes to a defense initiative that is costly and could be perceived as a security threat to its neighbors. In this July 16 phpoto, Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe attends a plenary session at the lower house in Tokyo. (AP-Yonhap)Despite its mantra of active contribution to peace, or “active pacifism,” Tokyo’s pursuit of heavier armament and an expanded security

July 22, 2015

[REPORTER’S COLUMN] Japan needs to focus on confidence-building

Korea and Singapore: A look ahead to the next 40 years

This year’s August is a month of great significance to Singapore as well as Korea. The two countries will commemorate their 50th and 70th anniversary of independence respectively. In addition, this month includes another commemorative day for both countries -- Aug. 8, 1975, when diplomatic relations were formalized 40 years ago. 　Even though Korea had trade representative and consulate general offices in Singapore in the early 1970s, diplomatic relations only began some years later due to the

July 22, 2015

Korea and Singapore: A look ahead to the next 40 years

Seoul condemns Tokyo’s renewed claim to Dokdo

South Korea strongly protested Japan’s repeated claim to its easternmost islets of Dokdo in Tokyo’s 2015 defense white paper on Tuesday, demanding “rectification” and warning of a negative impact on the bilateral relationship.Kenji Kanasugi, minister and deputy chief of mission at the Japanese Embassy, walks out of the building of the South Korean Foreign Ministry in central Seoul Tuesday, after receiving Seoul’s protest over Tokyo’s claim to Dokdo in its defense whitepaper. (Yonhap)Seoul’s cond

July 21, 2015

Seoul condemns Tokyo’s renewed claim to Dokdo

Korea, Honduras to boost energy ties

The leaders of South Korea and Honduras agreed Monday to bolster bilateral cooperation for the development of new energy sources and environment-friendly villages as parts of efforts to join the global drive to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.The agreement was reached at a summit between President Park Geun-hye and her Honduran counterpart, Juan Orlando Hernandez, at Cheong Wa Dae, officials said.After the meeting, the two leaders observed the signing of memorandums of understanding on improving

July 20, 2015

Korea safe from MERS: Foreign Ministry

The South Korean government told foreign diplomats on Monday that the country is now safe from the Middle East respiratory syndrome outbreak with statistics highlighting that the disease is under control and will soon disappear. Lee Key-cheol, ambassador for Overseas Koreans and Consular Affairs at the ministry, speaks during a briefing on the MERS for foreign diplomats at Seoul’s Foreign Ministry in central Seoul on Monday. (Yonhap)During the second round of its briefing for embassy staff from

July 20, 2015

Tokyo to present defense white paper

Tokyo’s 2015 defense white paper is expected to be presented to its Cabinet on Tuesday, drawing keen attention to whether it would repeat its provocative sovereignty claim on South Korea’s easternmost islets of Dokdo.Over the past decade, the Japanese government has described Dokdo as part of its territory in its annual defense policy paper, triggering seething criticism from South Korea and impeding the efforts to improve bilateral relations.Last year’s white paper further infuriated Koreans as

July 20, 2015

S. African envoy calls for compassion on Mandela Day

The United Nations General Assembly in 2009 proclaimed Nelson Mandela’s birthday, 18 July, as Mandela Day to commemorate the late South African president’s contributions to the anti-apartheid struggle. The day calls on individuals around the world to spend 67 minutes in the service of others ― providing food, education, shelter and volunteer work ― symbolizing the 67 years Mandela devoted to humanity. “Becoming part of the international Mandela Day movement requires an action that helps improve

July 19, 2015

S. African envoy calls for compassion on Mandela Day

Danish Ambassador highlights green growth alliance with Korea

In Denmark, renewable energy creates half of the country’s electricity. People drink water from the tap, swim in city harbors and ride bicycles everywhere. The world’s happiest nation is also one of the greenest, not accidentally, and aims to create a “fully green economy” by 2050. In a lecture on July 11, Danish Ambassador Thomas Lehmann said Denmark and Korea should invigorate their partnership for a shared sustainable future by turning the threat of climate change into resourceful opportuniti

July 19, 2015

Danish Ambassador highlights green growth alliance with Korea

U.S. second lady arrives in South Korea

U.S. second lady Jill Biden arrived in South Korea Saturday on a trip to highlight women's education and economic empowerment issues.The wife of U.S. Vice President Joe Biden was greeted by U.S. Ambassador to South Korea Mark Lippert and other U.S. and South Korean military officials on the tarmac at Osan Airbase, about 50 kilometers southwest of Seoul.She was to head to Jinkwansa, a Buddhist temple in Seoul, where she will meet with female monks and discuss the role they play in the community,

July 18, 2015

U.S. second lady says younger female workers in South Korea still face many challenges in workplace

South Korea has made big strides in promoting womens' rights over the past few decades, but there remain many difficulties and challenges for women, especially younger workers, the U.S. second lady said.Jill Biden, wife of U.S. Vice President Joe Biden, also said in an interview with Vogue Korea ahead of her visit to the country that she hopes to use her visit to South Korea to learn more about measures the country has been taking to "even the playing field for women in the workplace."Biden is s

July 18, 2015

S. Korea, France FM to have talks over Iran's nuke deal

The top diplomats from South Korea and France plan to have talks in Paris on Friday to exchange views on Iran's nuclear deal and North Korea's nuclear weapons program, Seoul's foreign ministry said.Foreign Minister Yun Byung-se will meet with his French counterpart Laurant Fabius to discuss the landmark Iranian nuclear deal and its implications on the North's nuke issue, the ministry added.Yun stopped by Paris on Friday after participating in a U.N. conference on financing for development held i

July 17, 2015

S. Korea returns stolen Korean Buddha statue to Japan

South Korea on Friday returned one of two Korean Buddha statues back to Japan, which were stolen by a Korean theft ring three years ago from a Japanese temple, a diplomatic source said.A group of seven South Korean thieves stole the two statues from the Kaijin shrine in Japan's Nagasaki Prefecture in October 2012. The two cultural artifacts were passed through Korean customs as they were mistakenly appraised as copied antiques.As South Korean cultural artifacts were looted by Japan during its 19

July 17, 2015

Japan's role in Korean Peninsula contingency would be to provide 'logistical support': Japan JCS chief

Japan's role in the event of a Korean Peninsula contingency would be to provide "logistical support" even if the country's controversial new security legislation passes through parliament, the country's military chief said Thursday.Adm. Katsutoshi Kawano, chief of the Joint Staff of the Japan Self-Defense Forces, made the remark during a discussion at the Center for Strategic and International Studies, saying the security bill is aimed at strengthening the alliance with the U.S."In that instance

July 17, 2015

‘Tokyo’s military actions on peninsula need Seoul’s consent’

South Korea’s Foreign Ministry reiterated Thursday that Tokyo must secure Seoul’s consent should it conduct any military activities that would affect the peninsular security and Korea’s national interests.The ministry’s statement came as the lower house of Japan’s legislature passed 11 controversial bills to enable its troops to fight abroad to support the military operations of its ally, the U.S., under the concept of collective self-defense. South Korea cannot accept Japanese military activiti

July 16, 2015

S. Korea urges transparency in Japan's defense policy

South Korea called on Japan Thursday to push for its new defense policy in a transparent manner, as Japan's ruling party railroaded controversial security bills through the lower house of the parliament.The bills, boycotted by opposition parties, would allow the conservative Shinzo Abe administration to reinterpret the constitution and expand the country's military role abroad.The Abe administration plans to enact the bills by Sept. 27, when the current extended parliamentary session ends. The l

July 16, 2015

U.S. welcomes Tokyo's increased defense role amid public opposition in Japan to collective self-defense right

The United States welcomes Japan to play a more active role in the region and beyond as reflected in the new defense cooperation guidelines between the two countries that include Japan exercising its "collective self-defense" right, the State Department said Wednesday.The comment came as public opposition has been growing sharply in Japan to the collective self-defense initiative that empowers Japan to fight alongside its allies even when not under attack itself. The initiative is the centerpiec

July 16, 2015

Iran deal magnifies North Korean isolation

Following Tuesday’s landmark deal over Iran’s nuclear program, questions are being raised over whether the accord would offer momentum for progress on North Korea’s denuclearization, with analysts torn over the deal’s implications for the peninsular standoff.North Korean leader Kim Jong-un meets with heads of North Korea’s overseas missions during a meeting of diplomats, the North’s official Korea Central Television reported Wednesday. (Yonhap)Some analysts say that after the U.S. took steps to

July 15, 2015

Iran deal magnifies North Korean isolation

S. Korea vows to help firms tap into Iranian market

South Korea will actively support local companies' inroads into the Iranian market after a landmark agreement was reached over the country's nuclear program, the government said Wednesday.The announcement comes a day after Iran reached a deal with the five permanent United Nations Security Council member states and Germany, easing global concerns about its nuclear program in exchange for lifting sanctions.The finance ministry said that it will take measures to set up a dedicated support center t

July 15, 2015