US ambassador expects strong Seoul-Washington alliance under Trump

The decadeslong alliance between South Korea and the United States will remain intact and get stronger even after President-elect Donald Trump takes office next year, the US ambassador to South Korea said Tuesday.As Seoul and Washington have built up strong ties in the past 60-plus years, their bilateral alliance will remain firm and get stronger after the Trump administration's inaguration on Jan. 20, Mark Lippert said in a forum in Seoul.The alliance will remain intact based on the two countri

Nov. 29, 2016

EU promotes digital single market

The European Union is removing various hurdles to create a synchronized digital marketplace, and cooperating with Korea presents boons to both sides, a leading EU official said in mid-November. Andrus Ansip, vice president of the European Commission, told reporters at the EU delegation building in Seoul that the anticipated launch of a digital single market in the future would benefit consumers as well as companies small, medium and large. The ambitious scheme -- one of the EU’s top 10 policy pr

Nov. 29, 2016

Berlin’s Buddy Bear inspirits municipal ties

The Buddy Bear -- Berlin’s symbolic mascot epitomizing the once-divided city’s prospering unity, peace and openness -- was replicated in Seoul last week through municipal and diplomatic collaboration. The sculpture, standing 2 meters tall and decorated in bright yellow, was unveiled Nov. 21 in front of the Seoul Square building, where the German Embassy and many German companies are located. A token of Teutonic tolerance toward the world, the statue has been installed in front of numerous German

Nov. 29, 2016

‘South Africa brims with investment opportunities’

South Africa is a leading emerging market in the resource-rich, yet underinvested African continent. The only African country in G-20 and BRICS, an alliance of five major emerging economies Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa, the nation is Korea’s largest trade partner in Africa, with $2.6 billion in bilateral trade last year. Located at the foot of Africa, its market is increasingly plowed by Western companies, bent on shoring up their logistics capabilities to penetrate the continen

Nov. 29, 2016

Korea strives to shore up charges in world aid race

This is the first installment of a three-part series looking into South Korea‘s official development aid policies and projects. -- Ed. Armed with development know-how and a technological edge, Korea is striving to carve out a niche as nations vie to secure a greater presence in emerging markets through more effective assistance.Albeit relatively small in financial firepower, Seoul offers its experiences from its transformation within a few generations from an aid recipient to a member of the Org

Nov. 28, 2016

Chinese expert: THAAD in Korea will be first target in case of China-US conflict

A former Chinese diplomat warned that the US anti-missile system to be deployed in South Korea could be the first target for a Chinese attack if conflict breaks out between the two superpowers. Yang Xiyu, a senior research fellow at the China Institute of International Studies, also said the installment of the Terminal High Altitude Area Defense system will bring a significant change to China's relations with South Korea, prompting Beijing to "re-think" the burgeoning bilateral partnership."The

Nov. 22, 2016

Norwegian youth orchestra dazzles crowd in Korea

Norway’s top youth orchestra -- Young Strings of Norway -- performed a vivacious rendition of classical pieces during its maiden tour of Korea last week.Comprised of 40 teenage talents up to the age of 19, the orchestra, directed by Barratt Due Institute of Music, has nurtured generations of prodigies since it was founded in 1927.Among them are world-class concert masters Ludvig Gudim and Camilla Kjoll, and violinists Vilde Frang and Eivind Holtsmark Ringstad, who have performed in cultural capi

Nov. 21, 2016

‘Support for World Food Program undergirds sustainable development’

The strengthening cooperation between the United Nations World Food Program and the Korean government is helping eradicate poverty worldwide and equipping communities against future disasters, the humanitarian agency’s leading official said during a visit to Korea in early November.Chris Kaye, director of the government partnerships division, stressed in an interview with The Korea Herald that the bilateral collaboration is a cornerstone of the UN sustainable development goals, a set of intergov

Nov. 21, 2016

‘Latvia, a Baltic jewel in tourism, culture and environment’

The Latvian Embassy in Seoul celebrated its National Day and the silver jubilee of its relations with Korea last week, promoting the country’s tourism, cultural and environmental assets around the Baltic Sea. The holiday on Nov. 18 marks the proclamation of the Republic of Latvia in 1918, when the country declared independence from Russia after more than 200 years of occupation. Latvia was subsumed into the Soviet Union in 1940, but became a vibrant democracy and market economy following the dis

Nov. 21, 2016

[Graphic News] The world’s nuclear arsenals

Though the US maintains an edge in global military force, it continues to face threats from not only member states of the Treaty on the Nonproliferation of Nuclear Weapons, like China and Russi, but also non-members such as North Korea which is developing its own arsenal. In its latest index of US military strength, the Heritage Foundation assessed threats to US interests.While Russia and China remain “most worrisome” given their ongoing modernization of their respective arsenals and defiant beh

Nov. 17, 2016

Foreign, security policymakers in hot seat over Choi scandal spillover

The Choi Soon-sil scandal is increasingly putting foreign and security policymakers in the spotlight, amid a growing trail of allegations she may have meddled in key diplomatic initiatives, the selection of high-level posts and major defense procurement projects. Evidence has been found that Choi, President Park Geun-hye’s longtime friend, was given classified records, such as a preview of Park’s 2014 speech in Dresden, Germany, and chose clothes and accessories to be worn by her during her over

Nov. 16, 2016

Denmark shares secret to surefooted happiness

In Denmark, people pursue happiness in everyday activities that land the Scandinavian society at the top of international happiness rankings year after year. Whether chumming around the fireplace, reading by the candlelight or cooking for loved ones, Danes have mastered the art of “hygge”: the pursuit of well-being through down-to-earth endeavors, which reportedly contributes to overall health and wealth.While the Nordic nation has championed its societal peace of mind, Korea has struggled, rank

Nov. 14, 2016

Photo exhibition illuminates 1956 Hungarian Revolution

Marking the 60th anniversary of the 1956 Hungarian Revolution and Freedom Fight, the Hungarian Embassy and the National Museum of Korean Contemporary History have organized a photo exhibition that runs until Jan. 22. Organized in collaboration with the House of Terror Museum in Budapest, the exhibition showcases some 50 pictures and infographics at the museum in Seoul.The exhibition includes representative images of the time, such as students marching on the streets and the Hungarian flag with a

Nov. 14, 2016

Poland, Hungary share legacies of transformation

Throughout the late 1980s and ’90s, the Visegrad Group of Poland, Hungary, the Czech Republic and Slovakia transformed from Soviet satellite states to sovereign European democracies. On Feb. 15, 1991, Polish President Lech Walesa, Czechoslovakian President Vaclav Havel and Hungarian Prime Minister Jozsef Antall met in the small castle town of Visegrad, Hungary, and established the informal alliance of Central European nations. The waves of transition that followed rippled from Warsaw, Prague and

Nov. 14, 2016

ASEAN buoys connectivity, woos investment

In line with the Association of Southeast Asian Nations’ Economic Community Blueprint 2025, the regional bloc of 10 countries aims to enhance their physical, institutional and societal connectivity over the next 10 years to navigate the volatile world economy. Bolstered by the launch of the ASEAN Community last year, which comprises of security, economic and socio-cultural dimensions, the association envisions a “more comprehensively and seamlessly connected” Southeast Asia through state-of-the-

Nov. 14, 2016

Korea, Japan to tentatively sign intelligence-sharing pact next week

South Korea plans to tentatively sign an accord to share intelligence on North Korea with Japan as early as next week, Seoul’s Defense Ministry said Friday, amid lingering political and public resistance toward military cooperation. After two rounds of working-level negotiations, the two countries are expected to hold a wrap-up session in Tokyo followed by the preliminary signing of the General Security of Military Information Agreement, ministry spokesperson Moon Sang-gyun said. “As the sides r

Nov. 11, 2016

Seoul goes all out to foster Trump ties

In the wake of Donald Trump’s election victory, Seoul officials are setting out to build a communication channel with the president-elect to promote policy understanding and coordination. The Foreign Ministry has since last June been running a task force under Deputy Minister for Political Affairs Kim Hyoung-zhin, with two teams responsible for monitoring and making contact with the campaigns of Trump and Democratic candidate Hillary Clinton. The election results pose new challenges for the team

Nov. 10, 2016

S. Korea-US ties will not be affected by Trump win: ex-U.S. congressman

Jay Kim, a former member of the U.S. House of Representatives from California, said Wednesday South Korea's alliance with the United States will not be affected in the long run, amid concerns that Donald Trump will upset close bilateral ties that have withstood the test of time."There's no reason for the Seoul-Washington ties to be damaged," Kim said during an interview with Yonhap News Agency.Trump has made numerous radical comments about the military alliances between two countries, claiming S

Nov. 9, 2016