Greece, Korea mark silver jubilee

By Dionisios Sourvanos, Greek ambassador to Korea The Greek War of Independence started on March 25, 1821, leading to the internationally recognized birth of the modern Greek state in 1830. This year, Greece celebrates the 195th anniversary of the war against the Ottoman rule and its 186th anniversary of independence. Greece and Korea have enjoyed long friendship and cooperation through our common struggle for peace and democracy. Most importantly, the two countries forged an unbreakable fratern

March 27, 2016

French innovation hub launched in Seoul

France, which has Europe’s second-largest venture capital ecosystem, launched a start-up incubator called French Tech Hub Seoul last week to bolster partnerships with small and medium-sized Korean enterprises in high-tech industries. A key part of the France-Korea Year 2015-16 celebrations marking the 130th anniversary of diplomatic relations, the platform will bring together venture companies in the information communications technology, financial technology and electronic commerce, as well as

March 27, 2016

Tunisia commemorates independence, democracy

The Tunisian Embassy last week celebrated the 60th anniversary of the country’s independence from France and the start of an institutional democracy following the 2011 Jasmine Revolution. “On 20th March 1956, our country retrieved freedom and sovereignty and set up the foundation of a modern republican state,” Tunisian Ambassador Mohamed Ali Nafti said in a speech at a reception at Lotte Hotel on March 21. “The January 2011 Revolution ushered in a new era of hope for a better future, where digni

March 27, 2016

A Korean table at a Denmark hospital

In January, I dashed over to the Danish National Hospital (Rigshospitalet) as soon as I heard that its Neuroscience Center had an old table imbued with “Korean spirit.” When I entered a conference room at the hospital, in the middle of it was a large, varnished wooden board table blazing with yellowish-brown lays as if it was ready to unveil over the past 65 years.Dr. Johannes Jakobsen, director of the center, told me a special story behind the table. After the Korean War broke out in 1950, the

March 27, 2016

[Weekender] Korea plays catch-up in space race

From military to weather to asteroid mining, outer space’s seemingly infinite scientific and commercial potential has in recent years been enticing a growing roster of countries across the globe into exploring the boundless expanse. 　Despite being a latecomer to the bandwagon, South Korea is seeking to expand its forays, such as with a moon probe, capitalizing on its success -- following two failed attempts -- in lifting off its first Naro space rocket in January 2013 with the help of Russia. 　N

March 25, 2016

Work starts on ASEAN culture house

(Foreign Ministry)BUSAN -- The Foreign Ministry broke ground Wednesday for an organization to promote the cultures of Southeast Asian countries as part of efforts to broaden sociocultural exchanges. The ASEAN Culture House will be sheltered in a four-story building at a 2,640-square-meter area in Busan’s vibrant Haeundae area, with construction work scheduled to be completed around June 2017. Some 400 ministry and city officials as well as ambassadors and diplomats from the 10-nation bloc, along

March 23, 2016

Korea, Japan to follow up on 'comfort women' agreement

 Senior officials of Korea and Japan are scheduled to hold their first bilateral meeting Tuesday to discuss follow-up steps since December’s agreement on resolving the “comfort women” issue, Seoul’s Foreign Ministry said Monday. Chung Byung-won, the new director general for Northeast Asian affairs at the Foreign Ministry here, will travel to Tokyo for talks with Kimihiro Ishikane, director general for Asian and Oceanian affairs at Japan’s Foreign Ministry.Protesters stage a sit-in demonstration

March 21, 2016

Philippine embassy opens cultural office

PHILIPPINE CULTURAL PROMOTION -- Sentro Rizal Seoul, a cultural promotion office in Philippine diplomatic missions worldwide, was inaugurated in the Philippine Embassy in Seoul on March 6. Established in 2009 as a national heritage, Sentro Rizal is dedicated to promoting Filipino culture, arts and language. In the picture (from left to right) are Seoul Global Center director Paul Carver, Seoul Culture Association president Jeong Jae-min, Philippine Ambassador Raul S. Hernandez, National Commissi

March 20, 2016

Dominica honors ex-Korean ambassador

Dominican Republic Ambassador Grecia Fiordalicia Pichardo honored Park Dong-sil, former Korean ambassador to the Caribbean nation, last week for strengthening bilateral ties. In a ceremony on Wednesday, Park was awarded “the Order of Merit of Duarte, Sanchez and Mella,” conferred by the Dominican Republic president to individuals who have performed distinguished services. Park, currently the Korean ambassador to Morocco, served as an envoy to the Dominican Republic from 2011 to 2014. The award i

March 20, 2016

Ireland, Korea mark historic, economic ties

The Irish Embassy last week celebrated St. Patrick’s Day and the centenary of the Easter 1916 Uprising that led to the country’s independence from Britain in 1922. At a reception at Grand Hyatt Seoul on Tuesday, Irish Ambassador Aingeal O’Donoghue said the uprising was “a pivotal moment” in Irish history for national liberation. “Hundred years ago, the world was a very different place. Ireland was still under British rule, Korea was under Japanese rule and Europe was ravaged by devastating war,”

March 20, 2016

Media scholar talks about digital, social revolution

In the digital age, journalists who are jacks-of-all-trades will be increasingly valued, a renowned media scholar said, stressing that quality content is increasingly prized and reporters need to differentiate their work.“Journalists will need more skills, because readers already know what happened from an array of sources,” Alfred Hermida, director and associate professor at the University of British Columbia Graduate School of Journalism, told The Korea Herald last week. “Being a good journali

March 20, 2016

Greenland enchants Korea with ice, fur and seafood

A delegation of Greenlandic government officials and businesspeople, led by Vittus Qujaukitsoq, minister for industry, labor, trade and foreign affairs, visited Korea last week to promote interest in tourism, fashion and food. “Greenland as a beautiful tourist destination with its proud tradition of craftsmanship in fashion and design will be attractive to Koreans,” Danish Ambassador Thomas Lehmann said in a speech at a seminar at the Shilla Seoul on Wednesday.Representatives from Visit Greenlan

March 20, 2016

Japanese textbooks intensify Dokdo claim

The Japanese government on Friday approved a set of updated high school textbooks containing strengthened claims to Korea’s easternmost islets of Dokdo, casting a fresh cloud over Seoul’s efforts to put bilateral ties back on track. Seoul lodged a protest, calling the long-festering assertion “unjust” and urging Tokyo to correct its erroneous historical view and provide fact-based education. Hideo Suzuki, a minister at the Japanese Embassy, was called in by Chung Byung-won, director general for

March 18, 2016

Japanese textbooks intensify Dokdo claim

The Japanese government on Friday approved a set of updated high school textbooks containing strengthened claims to Korea’s easternmost islets of Dokdo, casting a fresh cloud over Seoul’s efforts to put bilateral ties back on track. Seoul lodged a protest, calling the long-festering assertion “unjust” and urging Tokyo to correct its erroneous historical view and provide fact-based education. Hideo Suzuki, a minister at the Japanese Embassy, was called in by Chung Byung-won, director general for

March 18, 2016