Most Popular
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Torrential rainfall forces 1,500 to evacuate, causes widespread damage to homes, roads
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[KH Explains] Can smart chargers ease tensions over EV fires?
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1 in 5 households to have breadwinner over 80 in 30 years
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[Online Predators] Online reviews of sex tourism in Southeast Asia proliferate
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Middle East’s big AI push lures Korean tech firms
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[Herald Review] 'Culinary Class Wars': fresh, creative survival show minus the drama
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Arrival of fall calls for more outdoor festivals
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New Fifty Fifty off to strong start
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Assembly to review disputed appointment of national soccer team coach
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Pikki Pikki dance: Korean cheerleader dance routine takes social media by storm
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Korean ambassador wins Mexican award
Cho Whan-bok, Korean ambassador to Mexico, has won a Golden Mike Award from the Mexico’s national association of announcers on Feb. 23, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade said.The Golden Mike Award is given in recognition of achievements in the professional fields of politics, economy, culture, arts, broadcasting and sports, the ministry said. Its previous winners include a President of the Mexican Senate, radio program hosts, producers, actors/actresses and musicians. “It is very rare fo
Feb. 28, 2012
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Chinese foreign minister to visit Seoul this week
Chinese Foreign Minister Yang Jiechi will visit Seoul this week to discuss bilateral relations and Korean Peninsula issues, Seoul’s foreign ministry said Monday.The two-day official visit will start Thursday and include bilateral talks with South Korean Foreign Minister Kim Sung-hwan, the ministry said in a press release.The two sides are expected to discuss ways to deepen the “strategic cooperative partnership” between their nations, Korean Peninsula issues, as well as other regional and global
Feb. 27, 2012
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Russia regards N.K. defectors as refugees, Korean envoy says
Russia has a stable protocol to help North Korean defectors head for South Korea with the support of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, said Wi Sung-lac, Korean ambassador to Russia.His comments came as China refuses to listen to Seoul’s repeated pleas to stop forcibly repatriating North Korean defectors who are likely to face severe punishment, torture or even execution if they are returned. China labels these would-be defectors economic migrants, not refugees.“The first North K
Feb. 27, 2012
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[Herald Interview] Resources diplomacy takes time, patience: ambassador
In the wake of the CNK International stock-rigging scandal, South Korea’s so-called “resources diplomacy” has become a point of contention due to the high risks and low efficiency in searching for oil and other energy resources overseas.Questions were raised whether Korea’s signing of an MOU with the United Arab Emirates early last year to develop three oil fields in Abu Dhabi was overblown, because neither side has announced the signing of an official deal yet.However, resources diplomacy takes
Feb. 26, 2012
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Kuwait, Korea expand bilateral relations
The following is the message by Muteb Al-Mutoteh, ambassador of the State of Kuwait to the Republic of Korea, on the National Day. ― Ed.The Embassy of the State of Kuwait is celebrating the 51st anniversary of National Day on Feb. 25 and the 21st Liberation Day of the State of Kuwait on Feb. 26. On this delightful occasion, I would like to take this opportunity to extend the regards and best wishes of the people and government of the State of Kuwait to the friendly people and government of the R
Feb. 26, 2012
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Georgian minister seeks Korean investment in hydro-electric power
Georgia is seeking Korean investment to reach its untapped hydropower potential but could go nuclear within 30 years, according to the country’s energy minister.Alexander Khetaguri, Georgian minister of energy and natural resources, visited Korean energy companies last week to drum up interest in two major hydropower projects in his country.He said the mountainous country has 20,000 megawatts of unrealized hydropower capacity ― and was a net exporter of electricity. The former Soviet state impor
Feb. 26, 2012
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Coaches sought for Indian Olympic team
Foreign coaches are being recruited to train the Indian Olympic team, and are being asked to apply to the country’s embassy in Seoul. The Indian Sports Authority wants to hire foreign coaches in archery, fencing, taekwondo, weightlifting and wrestling to train the Indian team for 2020 Olympics. Those interested in the initial two-year contract, which can be reviewed and extended up until 2020, should contact Jeeva K Sagar, deputy chief of mission at the Indian Embassy in Seoul.Applications and b
Feb. 26, 2012
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Firms asked to invest in Sri Lanka
More than 80 Korean companies attended a forum designed to attract trade and investment to Sri Lanka. Ambassador Tissa Wijeratne said that bilateral commercial relations between the two countries had not yet met their full potential and that there were more business opportunities in his country that could be taken up by Korean firms. He told attendees at the trade and investment forum in Seoul that his country’s economy was booming after the end of three decades of conflict. The event on Feb. 17
Feb. 26, 2012
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France joins Korea on atomic energy, navy
The French ambassador has visited the Korea Atomic Energy Research Institute ahead of an atomic energy committee meeting between the two countries. Ambassador Elizabeth Laurin discussed cooperation on atomic energy research with KAERI chairman Jung Youn-ho during the visit on Feb. 21. She also toured the KAERI facilities, including the Korea’s first multi-purpose research reactor, Hanaro.The 20th France-Korea Atomic energy Committee will meet in Seoul in June to discuss safety measures to defend
Feb. 26, 2012
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Libya marks one year since ‘glorious’ revolt
Libya’s top envoy to Seoul has said the first anniversary of his country’s revolt that ousted Moammar Gadhafi “represents an important historical turning point in the life of the Libyan People, Middle East and the world.”Libyan Charge d’Affaires Mohamed Elhamdi led the celebrations in Seoul one year since the “glorious revolution.” “The revolution of 17th February carried the implications of justice, freedom, democracy and peace not only to Libyan people but to humanity in general,” he said. Li
Feb. 26, 2012
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New chamber to link Korea, Peru business
The Embassy of Peru and businesspeople here have come together to launch a new Peruvian Chamber of Commerce in Korea.“Our general idea is to have a place where we can facilitate opportunities for Korean companies that enable them to act on their interest in Peru and vice versa,” said Peruvian Ambassador Marcela Lopez Bravo.“We can find out what Peru needs from Korea and what Korea needs from Peru.”And Yulchon attorney Gonzalo D. Soriano, who will be the secretary of the new chamber, said: “I can
Feb. 26, 2012
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Shrine to Bangla martyrs sought in Seoul
Bangladeshis are asking the Seoul government for permission to build a shrine at which to honor martyrs who fought to save their mother tongue.The South Asian country’s ambassador, Shahidul Islam, has contacted the Seoul mayor requesting a site for a language martyr’s mausoleum, called a Shahid Minar in Bangla.The Bangladeshi community here wishes to have a structure before which to lay flowers and remember the people who died fighting to save their language. People in what is now Bangladesh wer
Feb. 26, 2012
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[Herald Interview] Philippine envoy welcomes speedy return for migrant workers
The Philippine ambassador has welcomed revised laws to help migrant workers renew their employment contracts here, but has also called for amnesty for those who have already overstayed their visas. While Luis T. Cruz said South Korea and the Philippines shared the common goal of “the rights and welfare of the workers,” he also called for further improvements to the law on Korea’s Employment Permit System. EPS allows Korean employers to hire temporary foreign workers for jobs they have not been a
Feb. 26, 2012
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Lawmakers press China on handling of N.K. defectors
Bipartisan resolution urges China to stop repatriating defectors to North KoreaSouth Korean lawmakers of the National Assembly’s foreign affairs, trade and unification committee have adopted a bipartisan resolution on Friday to urge China to stop its forced repatriation of North Korean defectors.Their urgent move came as a large group of North Koreans are on the verge of being sent back to the communist state against their will, with the possibility of harsh punishment and even execution if retu
Feb. 24, 2012
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Lee names vice foreign ministers, academy head
President Lee Myung-bak named Ahn Ho-young, ambassador to Belgium and the European Union, as the first vice foreign minister and Kim Sung-han, international relations professor at Korea University, as second vice foreign minister, said Cheong Wa Dae, Friday.“Ahn has vast experience in foreign affairs and trade with excellent work achievements and good managerial ability,” the Presidential Office said in a statement.Ahn was a sherpa during the G20 Seoul Summit hosted by Korea.After graduating fro
Feb. 24, 2012
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Korea may be exempted from Iran sanctions in some areas
The U.S. is likely to exempt Korea from Iran sanctions with regards to non-petroleum products.According to reports citing unnamed government sources, U.S. officials agreed with the Korean delegation that Korea-Iran trade in non-petroleum products should be exempted from the sanctions. Under the U.S. National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2012, which includes the so-called Kirk-Menendez amendment, economic entities that have transactions with the Iranian central bank are unable to dea
Feb. 23, 2012
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Ex-vice foreign minister tapped for envoy to U.S.
The South Korean government said that it has tapped Choi Young-jin, former vice foreign minister, as new ambassador to the United States, a government official said Thursday.Choi will be replacing the outgoing ambassador Han Duck-soo, who made a surprise offer to step down during his visit to Seoul last week and elected Wednesday as the new chief of the Korea International Trade Association.The government has asked the U.S. for an agreement on the appointment of Choi Thursday, said Foreign Minis
Feb. 23, 2012
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S. Korea, Armenia waiver visas for officials
The foreign ministers of South Korea and Armenia held talks in Seoul on Thursday to discuss how to increase substantive cooperation in economic, trade, development and cultural exchanges, officials said. Foreign Minister Kim Sung-hwan and his Armenian counterpart Edward Nalbandian, who arrived in Seoul on Wednesday for a two-day visit, also signed a visa-free agreement for diplomats and government officials. During the talks, Kim and Nalbandian exchanged a wide range of views on other matters of
Feb. 23, 2012
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Seoul appoints 18 new ambassadors
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade said Wednesday it had appointed 18 new ambassadors and five consuls general in an annual reshuffle.Hong Seong-hoa, former ambassador to Colombia, will serve as ambassador to Mexico and former ambassador to Peru Han Byung-kil will become ambassador to Argentina.Baek Ju-hyun, former director general of the overseas Koreans and consulate affairs department, was named to head the Korean Embassy in Kazakhstan. Lee Tae-ho, former director general of the free
Feb. 23, 2012
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S. Korea, U.S. to implement free trade pact on March 15
South Korea and the United States agreed to implement their free trade pact on March 15, Seoul's trade ministry said Tuesday, a move that helps pave the way for both countries to beef up their economic and political ties.South Korea's parliament approved the free trade pact in November of last year
Feb. 21, 2012