The foreign ministers of South Korea and Japan held talks in Tokyo on Sunday to forge much-needed momentum to mend bilateral relations that have been strained amid escalating historical and territorial feuds.Their meeting was arranged as the two countries are to mark the 50th anniversary on Monday of the normalization of bilateral diplomatic ties. It was the first visit by Seoul’s top diplomat since the Park Geun-hye administration was inaugurated in February 2013. During their talks, Seoul’s Fo

June 21, 2015

Since normalizing their diplomatic ties half a century ago, South Korea and Japan have made substantial progress in the economic, social and cultural domains, with trade volume nearly 400 times what it was.But their deepening partnership has been overshadowed by historical and territorial conflicts that have escalated in recent years amid their lack of high-level dialogue, political distrust and rising domestic nationalism.Seoul’s Prime Minister Yun Byung-se’s visit to Tokyo on Sunday has raised

June 21, 2015

Visiting all of Greece’s turquoise seas, picturesque islands, lush mountains, ancient monuments and public festivals would take a lifetime, even for Greeks. As the birthplace of democracy and philosophy, and now a thriving tourism nation of natural and cultural riches, Greece supplies endless wonders to its visitors. Greek Tourism Minister Elena Kountoura came to Korea last week to promote her country’s tourism, as it seeks to provide year-round services.“Korea has a very special place in my hea

June 21, 2015

India offers a full plate of tourism options, owing to its vast geography, long history and diverse cultures. For starters and globetrotters alike, a visit to the Kerala state of southwestern India would be worth a try, Indian Ambassador Vikram Doraiswami says. “Choosing one place over another is difficult and subjective, but I would recommend a holiday in Kerala for a perfect balance of culture, healing and scenery,” Doraiswami told The Korea Herald in an email interview. “An itinerary can incl

June 21, 2015

Although describing Turkey as a bridge between the East and West has long been a cliche, the country continues to offer connections for people from every corner of the world. Turkey has shorelines on the Mediterranean Sea and Black Sea, towns and villages with eclectic architecture and world-class ski resorts and golf courses.  Ali Karakus, the director of the Turkish Embassy's office of culture an information, poses with Nas Communication CEO Na Eun-Kyung at the Korea Travel Fair 2015 at Coex i

June 21, 2015

Seoul and Tokyo should increase high-level dialogue to enhance mutual understanding, trust and respect and mitigate their historical tensions, a Japanese scholar said.Junya Nishino, political science professor at Keio University in Tokyo, noted that dialogue was crucial to ensure mutually beneficial cooperation to cope with the changing contours of regional politics and security.“The two sides need to talk to bridge their differences. The absence of top-level dialogue has resulted in a lack of m

June 21, 2015

Georgia has described itself as the hidden tourist gem of the Caucasus for many years. Aided by government-led promotion and online marketing, tourists from around the world are opening their eyes to the country’s treasure trove of attractions.Situated at the crossroads of Europe and Asia, Georgia has had cultural interactions with neighboring Russia, Azerbaijan, Armenia and Turkey for centuries. As a result, the tourism experience is multifaceted and multilayered, offering a mix of historic sig

June 21, 2015

A South Korean scholar called on President Park Geun-hye to take on a broader leadership role for East Asian peace rather than focusing on peninsular security, stressing the need for her to lead the country’s ties with Japan in a direction that promotes regional stability.Nam Ki-jeong, a professor at the Institute for Japanese Studies in Seoul National University, said the improved Seoul-Tokyo ties would create leverage to enhance the ties between the two Koreas and between Pyongyang and Tokyo,

June 21, 2015

Foreign Minister Yun Byung-se began his two-day visit to Japan on Sunday where he will meet with his Japanese counterpart on mending ties that have been frayed over shared history.  The visit, Yun's first to Japan since taking office in 2013, comes as the Northeast Asian neighbors mark next week the 50th anniversary of the normalization of diplomatic ties.  Yun was to hold talks with Japanese Foreign Minister Fumio Kishida shortly after arriving there, according to a press release from the South

June 21, 2015

The Korea America Friendship Society held a reception Thursday commemorating the contribution of U.S. Armed Forces personnel in Korea and growing bilateral ties built on the foundation of the military alliance. The event is hosted each June to commemorate the sacrifices made by American veterans and troops in protecting South Korea from communist forces. Korea celebrates the 65th anniversary of the outbreak of the Korean War this year. Some 600 military servicepersons, diplomats, university pres

June 19, 2015

Seventy years after the end of World War II, reconciliation efforts among the once-enemy countries of Europe and Asia have taken divergent paths, with the former achieving continental integration and the latter trapped in historical disputes.Europe’s former foes put their bloody history behind to accomplish political, economic and social confederation through the European Union established in 1993. East Asia, on the other hand, has been mired in geopolitical tensions despite its integrated econo

June 18, 2015

South Korea’s partnership with ASEAN goes way beyond the economic realm, the head of the ASEAN-Korea Center said, defining the geostrategically crucial 10-nation group as sharing a “common destiny” with the country. Kim Young-sun stressed that Korea’s evolving relationship with the Association of Southeast Asian Nations is vital given the bloc’s geopolitical value and growth potential and the ramifications of its ongoing integration efforts, not to mention the two sides’ complementary economies.

June 18, 2015