Korea poised to import Colombian oil

Colombia has become a major oil producer in fewer than 10 years ― Latin America’s fourth largest now, from about 500,000 barrels per day in 2004 to over 1 million bpd in 2012.That fact was not lost on Colombian and Korean negotiators when they inked a free trade agreement in February. Although current energy exports to Korea are negligible, Colombia’s chief diplomatic representative here said the oil-rich Andean nation is poised to start exporting crude to Korea soon.Welcome news for the energy-

May 19, 2013

Mexico combines bridge-building with cuisine promotion

The Mexican Embassy in Korea hosted a dinner reception at a hotel in downtown Seoul on Tuesday to bolster the work of Mexican food professionals at a four-day international food exhibition. The reception and the food exhibition occurred at a time when Mexico and Korea could restart talks for a long-stalled free trade agreement.“This promotion and tasting event not only builds bridges between the two countries but it also allows for a generation of new allies of Mexico in Korea and Mexico,” said

May 19, 2013

New envoy sings praises of Australian food and wine

Incoming Australian Ambassador to Korea William Paterson introduced himself as a product of Victoria State in a food and wine tasting reception at a hotel in downtown Seoul on Wednesday.The “Put Victoria on Your Table” wine and dinner event was co-organized by Seoul-based Wine Review magazine, which featured the cuisine of the Australian state and its signature wines in its May issue. Representatives of 16 companies from Victoria were in Korea until Friday for the Seoul Food 2013 at Korea Intern

May 19, 2013

[Graphic News] Korea, China, Japan become permanent observers to Arctic Council

Arctic states Wednesday accepted South Korea, China, Japan, India, Italy and Singapore as permanent observers to the Arctic Council. They are joining the existing group of the United Kingdom, France, Germany, the Netherlands, Poland and Spain. A growing number of countries are vying for a bigger stake in the far north as global warming accelerates the melting of ice caps, boosting the potential for maritime logistics and resources development in addition to scientific research. The intergovernme

May 16, 2013

Korea gets foothold to develop Arctic

Korea became a permanent observer to the Arctic Council on Wednesday, stepping up its foray into the region where melting ice sheets are boosting the potential for maritime logistics, resources development and scientific research.The decision was made in the Swedish city of Kiruna at a ministerial meeting of eight member states ― the U.S., Russia, Canada, Sweden, Denmark, Norway, Finland and Iceland. The intergovernmental organization, which is responsible for setting the rules for development o

May 15, 2013

Bureaucratic maze hampers multicultural policy

Economic prosperity, an aging population and stark gender imbalance have combined to turn Korea into a major destination for Asian migrants. But Asia’s fourth-largest economy appears to lack institutional systems to keep pace with the change. Its policies on immigration and expatriates are hamstrung by short-sighted vision, fragmented policymaking and a dearth of leadership and commitment in officialdom.Several years after it started a multicultural policy in earnest, the government still lacks

May 15, 2013

KOICA, KF appoint new chiefs

Yu Hyun-seok, an international relations professor at Kyung Hee University, was on Monday named the new president of the Korea Foundation, the Foreign Ministry said. Yu, 50, has succeeded Kim Woo-sang to steer the state-run public diplomacy institute. He took office on Monday after receiving a letter of appointment. A prominent figure in the fields of foreign relations and international politics, Yun has been a member of the KF’s public diplomacy forum and a policy adviser to the Unification Mi

May 13, 2013

Envoys commemorate 60 years of Korean peace at Buddhist reception

A coterie of foreign envoys commemorated on Wednesday the armistice agreement that ended fighting in the Korea War 60 years ago with National Assembly representatives, officials from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and other dignitaries at a Buddhist temple nestled in the foothills of Bukhansan Mountain. The Jogye Order of Korean Buddhism hosted the special reception at Jinkwansa Temple for foreign ambassadors, including envoys of the 21 nations that fought for South Korea against the 1950 invas

May 12, 2013

Libyan envoy addresses violence

Libya’s democratic revolution in 2011 toppled strongman Moammar Gaddafi’s 30-year rule, drafted an interim constitution and, in July last year, Libyans democratically elected a new General National Congress for the first time. But now the North African country is reeling from several threats and attacks on Western targets, including the attack on a U.S. diplomatic mission in Benghazi that killed four Americans including U.S. Ambassador Christopher Stevens.Islamic militants tried to blow up the B

May 12, 2013

Envoy tells Mongolian students to make most of studying in Korea

Mongolian Ambassador to Korea Baasanjav Ganbold spoke at a Mongolian student group’s biggest annual meeting highlighting the rising presence of the Mongolian expatriate community in Korea at the National Institute for International Education in Seoul on May 4. The Mongolian Student Association in Korea (CMOX) organized the annual student meeting that hosted Ganbold and Mongolian poet, actor and musician Divaajin Sosorbaram. During his speech, Ganbold advised the audience of about 200 young peopl

May 12, 2013