Book on ASEAN highlights integration legacy

The ASEAN-Korea Center in Seoul published a book in late February to introduce the Association of Southeast Asian Nations to Korea and highlight the region’s integrative achievements. The book, titled “ASEAN Community, at the Heart of Asia,” was written by Korea’s leading experts on Southeast Asia and summarizes progress made since the association’s establishment in 1967 to its launch of a community at the end of last year.Under the banner “One vision, one identity and one community,” the new bo

March 6, 2016

Bulgaria, Korea celebrate future-oriented partnership

The Bulgarian embassy last week marked the country’s Liberation Day amid deepening ties with Korea that reached a “comprehensive and future-oriented partnership” last year. The holiday celebrates the national independence of 1878 from the Ottoman Empire, which ruled Bulgaria for over 500 years. The new alliance, announced in a joint presidential declaration during the state visit of Bulgarian President Rosen Plevneliev to Seoul last May, covers comprehensive areas including political dialogue, t

March 6, 2016

Dominican Republic to hold export fair

The Dominican Republic, an island nation in the heart of the Caribbean, celebrated its 172nd anniversary of national independence from Haiti and burgeoning ties with Korea at a reception in late February. At Lotte Hotel in Seoul on Feb. 26, Dominican Ambassador Grecia Fiordalicia Pichardo highlighted that her country has achieved political and social stability over the years, as well as 7 percent economic growth last year. “The key to our sustained economic growth lies in our administration’s pr

March 6, 2016

Nepal’s bountiful water awaits to be tapped

The Nepalese embassy last week held a seminar to inform the public on the post-earthquake situation and investment potentials in water resources in Nepal. Nepal, a landlocked country between China and India on the Himalayan Mountains, has sizeable water resources. It has the third largest ice deposits and the second largest inland water deposits in the world. Nepal drains billions of cubic meters of fresh water annually from its more than 6,000 rivers and rivulets, which travel downstream to cou

March 6, 2016

Korea strives to boost public diplomacy

Powered by its growing economic and diplomatic clout, Seoul is stepping up public diplomacy, exploring ways to capitalize on its middle-power charm and crafting tailored regional approaches.By promoting scholarly exchanges and cultural and outreach events at overseas diplomatic missions, the government helps people overseas experience Korean culture and build personal ties. It also partners with international celebrities as goodwill ambassadors who can influence their fans and boost Korea’s imag

Feb. 29, 2016

France cooperates with Korea for 2018 Winter Olympics

French Minister of Urban Affairs, Youth and Sport Patrick Kanner, visited Seoul in mid-February to bolster cooperation for the 2018 PyeongChang Winter Olympic Games in Korea. Kanner, who was accompanied by a delegation of French companies -- Poma, GL Events, Compagnie des Alpes, Cluster Montagne, Fusalp -- met Korean athletes and sports institutions in tennis, taekwondo and mountain climbing during a reception at the French Embassy in Seoul on Feb. 19.France has hosted the Winter Olympic Games i

Feb. 28, 2016

‘N.K. economy to struggle in isolation’

Amid mounting international sanctions and slowing Chinese growth, North Korea’s economy will tread a tough road this year and beyond, experts noted in early February. North Korea, where markets have largely supplanted the planned economy, has relied extensively on exporting coal and iron to China and extracting earnings from laborers abroad. Since its golden days of the early 1970s, when the country’s gross domestic product per capita was around $3,000, the communist state’s allocative economy h

Feb. 28, 2016

Seoul-Beijing ties in THAAD conundrum

Seoul is coming under increasing pressure to sharpen its strategic calculations as its relations with China appear to have plunged to their lowest ebb in years, amid friction over plans to station an advanced U.S. missile defense asset on the peninsula. The downturn came as the security dynamics surrounding Northeast Asia took a new turn, given that Pyongyang tested what it claimed was a hydrogen bomb last month and launched a rocket early this month. The provocations prompted South Korea and th

Feb. 25, 2016

Kuwait marks Korea ties on National Day

The following article was contributed by the Embassy of Kuwait. – Ed. Modern KuwaitAs the bitterly cold winter nears its end to give way to the warm spring bloom, the people of the State of Kuwait work busily with excitement in preparation for the nation’s joyous 55th National Day on Feb. 25 and the 25th anniversary of Liberation Day the following day, Feb. 26.It is my great pleasure and honor to extend warmest greetings to the people and the government of the Republic of Korea. I am most gratef

Feb. 24, 2016

China envoy warns of ‘destruction’ of ties due to THAAD

Chinese Ambassador to South Korea Qiu Guohong on Tuesday warned of a possible “destruction” of bilateral relations, reiterating the country’s opposition to the projected introduction of advanced U.S. missile assets on the peninsula. At a meeting with Kim Chong-in, interim chairman of the main opposition The Minjoo Party, the envoy stressed that a stationing of the Terminal High Altitude Area Defense system will dent Beijing’s security interests and in turn take a toll on the relationship. “Much

Feb. 23, 2016

Sailor freed after pirates hijacked ship off West Africa

A South Korean sailor was released Tuesday nearly two weeks after a United Arab Emirates-registered oil tanker was hijacked off the coast of Cote d’Ivoire that led to a dramatic nighttime rescue mission by the Nigerian military, said Seoul’s Foreign Ministry. The unidentified seaman was taken hostage on Feb. 11 along with 17 other crew members from China, India, Pakistan, Sudan and Ghana, the ministry said. The Panama-flagged Maximus, owned by a UAE company and on lease to a South Korean shippin

Feb. 23, 2016

Indonesia awards Korean admiral with top honor

Korean Admiral Jung Ho-sub was conferred Indonesia’s highest naval award, Bintang Jalasena Utama, in a ceremony at the embassy in Seoul last week. In the presence of diplomatic and naval officers of both countries, Indonesian Ambassador John Prasetio honored the Korean chief of naval operations for his contributions to enhancing bilateral naval ties through capacity building, technical training and arms procurement. Some of Jung’s achievements include facilitating naval academy exchange between

Feb. 22, 2016