EU, Korea launch emissions trading scheme

The European Union delegation to Korea and Korea’s Ministry of Strategy and Finance launched a project last week to tackle greenhouse gas emissions as part of bilateral cooperation to curb climate change. The emissions trading scheme cooperation project -- worth over 3.5 million euros ($3.87 million) -- will run until January 2019. The EU will offer technical assistance and expertise to Korea through consultations, workshops and study visits to the EU. Through the three-year initiative, both sid

July 10, 2016

South Africa touts wonders for tourism boost

Despite offering far-flung thrills for tourists, South Africa has been a relatively unexplored destination over the years. The country on the southernmost tip of Africa exhibits a myriad of wonders ranging from natural adventure to cultural heritage. Across its beaches, vineyards, plazas and savannas, one can find “city lights and star-studded nights, exquisite cuisines and world-renowned wines,” and hear “the roar of lions and whisper of grasslands,” according to the country’s tourism board. To

July 10, 2016

Former Mongolian president urges N. Korea to give up nukes for economic development

Former Mongolian President Punsalmaagiin Ochirbat has said North Korea's simultaneous pursuit of nuclear weapons and economic development is an "impossible" task, adding that Pyongyang should first give up its nuclear program to seek economic growth.Ochirbat, who served as Mongolia's first directly elected president from 1990 to 1997, said economic cooperation with North Korea will be impossible, unless the reclusive state gives up its nuclear program."North Korea needs to focus on enhancing its

July 10, 2016

French charcuterie to satiate connoisseurs

For those craving unfranchised gastronomy, France’s “charcuterie” is bringing in homegrown cookery for a pleasant surprise. The French Embassy hosted a series of events last week to promote the culinary art and science of charcuterie: preserved meat products like bacon, ham, sausage, terrines, galantines, ballotines, pates, and confit, primarily from pork.Six companies -- assisted by the French Federation of Charcuterie Producers, France Gourmet and France AgriMer -- visited Korea to introduce t

July 6, 2016

S. Korea condemns terrorist attack in Bangladesh

South Korea on Sunday strongly condemned a terrorist attack that took place last week at a restaurant in Bangladesh, vowing to join global efforts to eradicate terrorism.A total of 22 people, including two police officers, have been killed after a group of gunmen on Friday stormed the restaurant in the Bangladeshi capital of Dhaka and took scores of customers and restaurant workers as hostages.South Korea's foreign ministry said the government cannot hide its shock and anger over the attack in B

July 3, 2016

‘Partnering Europe boon for science and innovation’

The European Union delegation on Tuesday organized a workshop to raise the profile of European research institutions here and foster future collaboration with Korean partners in science, technology and innovation. The venue at the Hamilton Hotel in Seoul was co-organized by the delegation, the National Research Foundation of Korea and government-funded research agencies in Korea. As Europe leaps forward and engages the world in science and innovation, harnessing links and carrying out joint proj

July 3, 2016

Envoys gather for iftar dinner

Indonesian Ambassador John Prasetio on Thursday held an iftar -- a meal ceremony to mark the end of the daily Ramadan fast at sunset -- joined by several Muslim ambassadors. The event at the Indonesian Embassy in Seoul included Islamic prayers, a speech and dinner, acting as a point of convergence for the believers. Moroccan Ambassador Mohammed Chraibi, Kuwaiti Ambassador Jasem Albudaiwi, Tunisian Ambassador Mohamed Ali Nafti, Azeri Ambassador Ramzi Teymurov and Bruneian Ambassador Dato Paduka H

July 3, 2016

'Cambodian agriculture ripe for investment'

Cambodia, a country nestled in the southern lowlands of the Indochinese Peninsula, has fertile areas that yield some of the richest agricultural products in the region. Hallmark produce such as rice, rubber, vegetables, sugar cane, cashew nuts and soybeans have been the mainstay of exports, along with livestock and aquaculture. Amid the nation’s efforts to be a middle-income economy by 2030, agriculture was chosen as a priority sector, with the government actively wooing foreign investors. Korea

July 3, 2016

Rubio 'wholeheartedly' rejects claims against Korea-U.S. FTA

WASHINGTON (Yonhap) -- Former U.S. presidential candidate Sen. Marco Rubio said Friday that he "wholeheartedly" rejects claims that the free trade agreement with South Korea brought no benefits to the U.S. Senator Marco Rubio attends a Senate Foreign Relations Committee hearing on global efforts to defeat ISIS on Capitol Hill in Washington, U.S., on June 28. AFP-YonhapRubio (R-FL) made the remark in a statement on his meeting Thursday with South Korean Ambassador Ahn Ho-young, just days after Re

July 2, 2016

Trump again criticizes U.S-Korea free trade agreement

U.S. Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump strongly criticized the free trade agreement with Korea on Tuesday, accusing it of enlarging U.S. trade deficits and costing a number of American jobs.Trump made the argument in an economic policy speech in Pennsylvania, expressing deeply negative views of free trade and accusing his Democratic rival Hillary Clinton of supporting what he called "one terrible trade deal after another.""It was also Hillary Clinton, as secretary of state, who shov

June 29, 2016

Grasping German for fortunes in Germany

The German Embassy last week granted diplomas to bookworms at high schools across Seoul who successfully completed German language courses offered by Germany’s school authorities and Foreign Office. At the ceremony on Tuesday, 72 students received certificates for completing the DSD 1 and DSD 2 programs, shortened names for the German Language Certificate of the Education Ministers Conference.By earning these credentials, they are recognized as having the necessary competence to study at German

June 26, 2016

Poland, Korea hash over cultural promotion

Polish Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Culture and National Heritage Piotr Glinski visited Korea last week to boost collaboration between the two countries, which aim to globalize their cultures as engines of growth. As part of his five-day visit, he participated in the 7th Asia-Europe Culture Ministers’ Meeting in Gwangju, representing the Polish delegation that joined with the highest number of officials. He also met his counterpart, Korean Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism Kim Jon

June 26, 2016

New Zealand minister touts Maori enterprise

New Zealand Minister for Maori Development Te Ururoa Flavell came to Korea last week to raise the profile of Maori businesses and promote their time-honored traditions. On his first visit, Flavell led a trade delegation of nine Maori firms covering food and beverage, seafood, horticulture, agriculture, forestry and tourism. At the breakfast forum hosted by the New Zealand Chamber of Commerce, known as “The Kiwi Chamber” on Tuesday, he addressed more than 50 local business community leaders on th

June 26, 2016

Amid rising terror threats, Korea remains vulnerable

In January 2015, an 18-year-old who went missing in Turkey shook South Korean society after being found to have illegally crossed the border to Syria to join the Islamic State extremist group. The boy, identified by his surname Kim, had deliberately planned his trip and vanished with the help of a Turkish man he met online, Seoul authorities said. The police retrieved more than 50 images from his computer of IS jihadists, IS flags and Muslim women, on top of a flurry of related Web search eviden

June 26, 2016