The following is the fourth in a series of articles on Japan’s wartime sexual enslavement of Asian women on the occasion of the 61st anniversary of the foundation of The Korea Herald on Aug. 15. ― Ed.Since former “comfort women” came forward in the early 1990s, the government, academics and activists have been building a treasure trove of documents, photos and other publications to substantiate Japan’s sex slavery during World War II. While the victims’ testimonies serve as the most vivid and im

Aug. 27, 2014

Senegal President Macky Sall has laid out his vision to build competitive, diversified and sustainable agriculture. This vision, driven by the Plan Senegal Emergent, targets the economic emergence of our country by focusing on agriculture capable of: feeding its population better and sustainably on an endogenous basis; reaping the benefits of international trade; securing and increasing rural incomes; and obtaining agricultural and nonagricultural jobs. The Accelerated Program for Agriculture in

Aug. 27, 2014

Since the financial crisis in 2008, we have been witnessing marked changes to the global economic landscape. One such change, within Asia and the Pacific, is the recognition of the need to find new growth engines beyond the strategy of exporting to developed markets. As this year’s Economic and Social Survey of Asia and the Pacific highlights, the solution to invigorating the region’s growth lays in enhancing regional cooperation and connectivity, by allowing ease of access to a greater pool of

Aug. 27, 2014

Twenty top policymakers from 10 developing countries gathered Monday to explore ways to improve their rural revamp and regional development strategies based on Korea’s experience. The Korea International Cooperation Agency, in charge of the country’s grant aid, is hosting the weeklong training session to share its know-how from the Saemaul Movement, an agricultural and community reform campaign in the 1970-80s. Korea International Cooperation Agency President Kim Young-mok (fifth from left, fron

Aug. 25, 2014

Human rights activist Thea Bisenberger-van de Wal (second from left) participates in the anti-sex slavery protest in Hague, Netherlands, on April 8. (Yonhap)For Thea Bisenberger-van der Wal, Japan is a nation that took "our childhood away, raped our mothers and worked our fathers to death" during World War II, but is still refusing to come to terms with its wrongful past.Bisenberger's late mother was one of tens of thousands, perhaps hundreds of thousands of women historians say were forced into

Aug. 25, 2014

A map made by the Japanese government that recognizes South Korea’s ownership of its easternmost islets of Dokdo was unveiled on Sunday, in a clear piece of evidence refuting Japan’s repeated claim to the territory.The map indicates that Japan’s continued territorial claim to the Dokdo islets is wrongfully made as the Japanese government used the map to mark its own territory when it clinched a peace treaty with Allied forces in September 1951 following its defeat in World War II.The Dokdo islet

Aug. 24, 2014

The Russian Embassy here, commemorating the 150th anniversary of Korean migration to Russia, celebrated on Tuesday at the Russian chancery the arrival of a trans-Eurasian auto-trek rally team. It was perhaps the first time ever for a team to make the arduous 16,000 kilometer trans-Eurasian road trip by car from Moscow to Seoul. The team crossed Siberia, Uzbekistan, Kyrgyzstan and Kazakhstan, not to mention North Korea. Every region they passed through has substantial populations of ethnic Korean

Aug. 24, 2014

Gabon’s top diplomat here underscored efforts in preserving his country’s vast rainforest, as well as bilateral ties, during a 54th Gabonese National Day celebration in Seoul on Tuesday.“Gabon is located in the center of Africa and 85 percent of its territory is tropical rainforest. This is a country of long-lasting peace and political stability. Gabon is working toward economic diversification while maintaining sustainable development,” said Gabonese Ambassador to South Korea Carlos Victor Boun

Aug. 24, 2014

Foreign envoys posted here representing countries in Africa are pushing back at what they describe as an irrational “Ebola panic,” amid fears among the South Korean public of the spread of the deadly disease that is currently affecting parts of West Africa.Earlier this month, Duksung Women’s University rescinded an invitation for three young women from Nigeria to attend the World Congress of Global Partnership for Young Women 2014, which took place from Aug. 4-15.Duksung Women’s University in Se

Aug. 24, 2014

A former Japanese prime minister, who offered a landmark apology for the country’s wartime atrocities, lashed out at incumbent Prime Minister Shinzo Abe on Friday for his ongoing attempts to chip away at Tokyo’s previous efforts to atone for its imperial past and move relations with neighbors forward.Tomiichi Murayama called on Abe to follow through on his promise to uphold previous apologies, which he said serve as foundations for better Seoul-Tokyo ties. Marking the 50th anniversary of the end

Aug. 22, 2014

Yoo Heung-soo appears to be a confident and seasoned politician. Though he has yet to grasp all the pending issues and diplomatic terminology, his hale, vigorous and poised figure defies concerns about him being Korea’s oldest-ever ambassador to Japan. The 76-year-old former lawmaker, provincial governor and national police chief is scheduled to fly to Tokyo on Sunday to take on what is currently one of Korea’s most challenging diplomatic posts. He received a letter of credence from President Pa

Aug. 21, 2014