S. Korean trade minister heads to Paris to win support to become next WTO head

  GENEVA -- South Korean Trade Minister Yoo Myung-hee departed Geneva for Paris Wednesday as she drums up support for her bid to become the next head of the World Trade Organization (WTO). "In the French capital, she is scheduled to meet with key figures to secure their support in the selection process," an insider said without providing details. The minister is expected to remain in Paris till Friday. Yoo traveled to Switzerland late last month and has been engaged in talks

Sept. 9, 2020

US Amb. Harris unveils books on his desk, many about N. Korea, for Month of Reading

US Ambassador to Seoul Harry Harris on Wednesday shared a list of books on his desk, some related to North Korea, for South Korea's Month of Reading in a tweet that hinted at his interest in the reclusive country. The ambassador's list of seven books included four North Korea-related ones, including "Bridging the Divide," a book about South Korean President Moon Jae-in's efforts to engage with North Korea and foster lasting peace on the Korean Peninsula. "For ROK's Month of Re

Sept. 9, 2020

FM Kang to attend ASEAN meetings this week

South Korean Foreign Minister Kang Kyung-wha was set to attend a series of annual meetings led by the Association of Southeast Asian Nations beginning Wednesday to discuss responses to the novel coronavirus and other regional issues.  This year’s sessions, held virtually due to the pandemic, arrive at a time when Washington and Beijing are competing for influence in the region, intensifying their rivalry.  The COVID-19 pandemic is expected to top the agenda at this year’

Sept. 9, 2020

FM Kang voices concerns over US-China tension, impact on S. Korea's diplomacy

Foreign Minister Kang Kyung-wha said Tuesday that a growing Sino-US rivalry makes South Korea's diplomatic endeavor to firm up relations with the major powers a "very tough task." Kang delivered a speech on Seoul's response to the "challenging global context," its handling of the new coronavirus and the erosion of multilateralism, as a special speaker for a gathering of Romanian diplomats via video links. "We are firmly committed to safeguarding and strengthening our s

Sept. 8, 2020

Vice FM Choi to meet Biegun in Washington Thursday

First Vice Foreign Minister Choi Jong-kun will meet with US Deputy Secretary of State Stephen Biegun in Washington on Thursday to discuss bilateral relations, the regional situation and other issues, the Foreign Ministry said Tuesday.  “During the talks, the two sides are planning to have comprehensive consultations on the overall South Korea-US relations, regional situation and issues of mutual interest,” Kim In-chul, the ministry’s spokesperson, said in a regular brief

Sept. 8, 2020

Vice FM Choi meets Chinese, Japanese ambassadors amid Sino-US rivalry, looming leadership change in Japan

First Vice Foreign Minister Choi Jong-kun met with the Chinese and Japanese ambassadors on Monday, amid the intensifying Sino-US rivalry and a looming leadership change in Japan. Since taking office last month, Choi has held and planned online and offline meetings with his foreign counterparts and ambassadors from major countries as part of efforts to ensure their support for Seoul's policy agenda, including its push for lasting peace on the Korean Peninsula. He first met with US Ambassador Ha

Sept. 7, 2020

WTO kicks off selection process for new chief

The World Trade Organization is kicking off the selection process for its new director general this week, with South Korean Trade Minister Yoo Myung-hee vying with seven other candidates for the job.   　 The selection process starts on Monday by Geneva time, where representatives from 164 members states are to voice their preference among the eight candidates to the selection committee, made up of David Walker, WTO General Council chair, Dacio Castillo, chair of the Dispute Settlement Bo

Sept. 7, 2020

S. Korea, US in talks to arrange vice FM Choi's visit to Washington

South Korea and the United States are in talks to arrange a visit to Washington by Seoul's new First Vice Foreign Minister Choi Jong-kun for talks with his US counterpart, a foreign ministry official said Sunday. The visit, which could reportedly take place this week, would come as Seoul and Washington seek to address an array of pending issues, such as deadlocked defense cost-sharing negotiations and coordination on North Korea-related issues. Should Choi meet Deputy Secretary of State Steph

Sept. 6, 2020

FM stresses need for allowing ‘essential’ business travels amid COVID-19

South Korean Foreign Minister Kang Kyung-wha called for the need to allow essential trips by businesspeople, while countries maintain quarantine measures on COVID-19 outbreak, during a Group of 20 nations’ ministerial forum, her office said Friday.  Kang attended the special video session of G-20 on Thursday evening, which came ahead of the regular G-20 ministers’ meeting slated for November, where the members discussed global cooperation in the battle against the novel corona

Sept. 4, 2020

Trump says KORUS FTA led to US losses before but now is great

WASHINGTON -- US President Donald Trump again blasted his Democratic presidential rival Joe Biden for supporting the Korea-US free trade agreement (FTA) in its original form, arguing the initial pact only caused losses for the United States. "Joe Biden supported NAFTA, China's entry into the world trade. He supported the Korean deal. The Korean deal was so bad. It was so bad. This was a deal ... done by crooked Hillary Clinton. This was a deal that was going to produce 250,000 jobs,"

Sept. 4, 2020

FM Kang to attend annual ASEAN-related meetings via video links next week

Foreign Minister Kang Kyung-wha will attend a series of annual meetings with her counterparts from Southeast Asian and other countries next week via video links to discuss responses to the new coronavirus and regional issues, her office said Thursday. From Wednesday through Saturday, Kang will join the virtual meetings involving the 10-member Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), such as the ASEAN Regional Forum (ARF) and the East Asia Summit session. Vietnam planned to host the gat

Sept. 3, 2020

Singaporean ambassador makes courtesy visit

SINGAPOREAN ENVOY’S VISIT -- Herald Corp. CEO and Publisher Kwon Chung-won (left) greets Eric Teo, ambassador of Singapore to South Korea, during a courtesy visit to the Herald Corp. headquarters in central Seoul on Thursday. 

Sept. 3, 2020

S. Korea, Singapore agree on 'fast-track' entry program for biz people amid COVID-19

South Korea and Singapore agreed Wednesday to introduce a "fast-track" entry program this week for essential trips by businesspeople and others in exception to coronavirus entry restrictions, the foreign ministry said. During telephone talks, Foreign Minister Kang Kyung-wha and her Singaporean counterpart, Vivian Balakrishnan, reached the agreement on the streamlined entry procedures set to take effect on Friday. "The agreement with Singapore, the logistical and financial hub, i

Sept. 2, 2020

Pompeo says S. Korea and other allies will unite against China

WASHINGTON -- US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said Tuesday that South Korea and other US allies will join US efforts to tackle what he called economic and political aggression from China. "I think you are seeing the entire world begin to unite around the central understanding that the Chinese Communist Party simply is going to refuse to compete in a fair, reciprocal, transparent way," the top US diplomat said in an interview with US cable network Fox Business News. "So whethe

Sept. 2, 2020

Unification minister calls for Japan's support in improving inter-Korean relations

Unification Minister Lee In-young called Tuesday for Japan's support in improving inter-Korean relations, saying it will be "very beneficial for Japan as well." Lee made the remark during his first meeting with Japanese Ambassador Koji Tomita after his inauguration in July, stressing the need for the two countries to maintain cooperation in the wake of Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe's recent decision to step down. "Prime Minister Abe has announced his decision to step dow

Sept. 1, 2020

Foreign, Unification ministries seek budget hikes for 2021

South Korea’s Foreign Ministry and its Unification Ministry on Tuesday announced budget hikes of 3.6 percent and 2.5 percent, respectively, for next year. 　 The Foreign Ministry said it is requesting 2.84 trillion won ($2.4 billion) for next year, an increase of 3.6 percent from 2.74 trillion won this year, with a focus on reinforcing virtual diplomacy amid the COVID-19 pandemic and bolstering cooperation with the US and China, as the rivalry between the two superpowers is expected to in

Sept. 1, 2020

Overseas Koreans can book appointment online for consular services

South Koreans living overseas will be able to schedule an appointment online before visiting their local embassy or consulate for consular services, the Foreign Ministry said Tuesday.  Due to concerns related to the outbreak of COVID-19 around the world, the ministry said it will start allowing Korean nationals to book an appointment at its website (http://consul.mofa.go.kr) before making an in-person visit at local missions for consular assistance.  Applicants have to sign up on th

Sept. 1, 2020

Kang reaffirms Seoul's commitment to peninsula peace, calls NK denuclearization 'integral'

Foreign Minister Kang Kyung-wha on Monday reiterated South Korea's determination to forge ahead with its push for lasting peace on the divided peninsula, to which she calls Pyongyang's denuclearization "integral." Kang made the remarks amid stalled inter-Korean relations and a drawn-out deadlock in nuclear negotiations between Washington and Pyongyang, both of which have thrown into doubt Seoul's dogged pursuit of greater trust and economic cooperation with Pyongyang. "The Kor

Aug. 31, 2020

FM cautious about assessing Seoul-Tokyo relations after a post-Abe Japan

Korean Foreign Minister Kang Kyung-wha on Monday expressed caution about projecting future relations with Tokyo, amid rising hope of significant improvement in the strained bilateral ties after the imminent departure of Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe. 　 “We have to take a cautious stance on casting a hopeful outlook, as the matter itself is difficult,” Kang told a plenary session of the National Assembly’s Foreign Affairs and Unification Committee. She was answering a law

Aug. 31, 2020

Online forum on ‘Facets of Modern Day India’ to be held from Sept. 1-14

A fortnight-long lecture series “Facets of Modern India” will be held via video conference from Tuesday, aiming to provide a better understanding of the world’s largest democracy and one of the fastest growing economies. Hosted by the Embassy of India and the Indian Cultural Centre in Seoul, renowned experts from India will speak on themes such as India’s strategic thinking, foreign policy, economy, democracy, media and its approach to international security during the

Aug. 30, 2020