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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S. Korea, Chile agree to upgrade relations to comprehensive partnership
South Korean Foreign Minister Kim Sung-hwan held talks with his Chilean counterpart this week and agreed to work together to elevate relations between the two countries to a comprehensive cooperative partnership, officials said Saturday.Chile was the third stop in Kim's four-nation tour of South America that already took him to Colombia and Peru. After Chile, Kim plans to visit Brazil. The Latin A
May 27, 2012
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Ceremony for new Omani Embassy
Oman’s Interior Minister Sayyid Hamoud Bin Faisal Al Busaidi and Ambassador Mohamed Salim Alharthy officially opened his country’s new embassy in Seoul on Friday. The diplomatic mission has moved from its former site in Itaewon to the new specially designed building in Jongno-gu.The opening ceremony was followed by the Oman Tourism and Culture night at the Lotte Hotel organized by the country’s Tourism Ministry. “The new embassy building strengthens the current relationship between Oman and Kor
May 25, 2012
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Korea, U.S. agree to change rules on custody of American soldiers here
Change to SOFA facilitates Korean authorities’ investigation on criminal suspectsSouth Korea and the U.S. on Wednesday agreed to measures enhancing Korea’s investigative rights in criminal cases involving U.S. soldiers.The Korea-U.S. Status of Forces Agreement Joint Committee came up with an “agreed recommendation” to amend the SOFA, which governs the legal status of some 28,500 troops stationed here.It agreed to delete a clause in the agreement which bans Korean authorities from holding U.S. su
May 23, 2012
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Korea unlikely to get waiver on EU insurance ban for Iranian crude
The European Union is unlikely to accept South Korea’s request for an exemption from its planned ban on insurance for ships carrying Iranian oil, Seoul officials said Tuesday.A failure to secure a waiver would mean Korea must halt imports from one of its major crude suppliers unless it finds an alternative source of insurance. “Our discussions (with the EU) have yet to be finished, but considering the current negotiation process, it will not be easy for us to secure an exemption,” Foreign Minist
May 22, 2012
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Rethinking diplomacy for new world order
Academy chief looks to nurture versatile communicators, plant sense of mission in prospective diplomatsKim Byung-kook, chief of the Korea National Diplomatic Academy, scribbled a nesting table on paper to illustrate his projection of a new world order in 2030.The mightiest pair, hypothetically the United States and China, plays chess on the innermost table. They and several middle powers are engaged in a poker game on the intermediate tier. And the uppermost level is the stage for all partaking
May 21, 2012
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Profile of Kim Byung-kook
Kim Byung-kook, chancellor of the Korea National Diplomatic Academy, is one of Korea’s leading experts on foreign policy and international politics, known for his wide connections with academics and government officials at home and abroad. After teaching political science and international relations at Korea University from 1999, Kim has taken up multiple posts at think tanks and advisory panels. Kim co-founded the East Asia Institute in 2002 and served as president until becoming the first pres
May 21, 2012
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BCCK employment workshop in Seoul
The British Chamber of Commerce in Korea is to hold an employment law workshop on May 31. The breakfast workshop will explore the latest developments in Korean employment law following recent Supreme Court decisions. The court recently ruled against Hyundai Motor’s defense of its use of outsourced suppliers, making it liable to employ the workers of the supplier. The workshop will discuss the business impact of this in terms of outsourcing and wage calculations from a CEO’s perspective.The event
May 20, 2012
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Thai Buddhists ordained in Seoul
The first ever Thai Buddhist ordination ceremony to be held in Korea took place on Sunday. The ceremony was held along with other Thai Buddhist rites and an exhibition as part of the Lotus Lantern Festival in Seoul.A traditional Thai blessing dance, a demonstration of a Thai Buddhist ordination ceremony and a presentation of “Sangha Dana” were held from 2 p.m. in front of Jogye Temple. The Sangha Dana is a presentation of necessities to the community of monks, believed to yield great merits for
May 20, 2012
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Koreans seek chances for EU study
A day to discuss study and research opportunities in Europe was held at Sookmyung Women’s University on May 17. Prospective students had the chance to find out about study opportunities in 14 European countries at the event supported by the EU Delegation to Korea. Participating countries hosted booths to offer individual counseling as well as language workshops. Information on job and internship opportunities was also available.Students joined a lucky draw for gifts from each European country an
May 20, 2012
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Bangladeshi vice minister seeks better EPS
A Bangladeshi government vice minister visited Korea to discuss how to improve the welfare and number of Bangladeshi migrant workers here and other migrant issues.Secretary of the Ministry of Expatriates’ Welfare and Overseas Employment Dr. Zafar Ahmed Khan discussed with Korean government and bank officials ways to improve the Employment Permit system and the possibility of a partnership with Probashi Kallyan Bank for easier remittances on a visit here on May 8-9.During his stay, Khan met with
May 20, 2012
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Nominations sought to award Irish abroad
The Irish Embassy is inviting nominations from people in Korea for a new award. The country’s new Presidential Distinguished Service Award for the Irish Abroad will be bestowed upon up to 10 people each year who have who have made a sustained and distinguished service to Ireland or Irish communities overseas.This is the first year of the award, and it is expected that the first honors will be presented by the Irish President in October or November.“We would like to invite members of the Irish Co
May 20, 2012
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Omani envoy promotes Expo presence from new embassy
Omani Ambassador to Korea Mohamed Salim Alharthy has invited Koreans and international visitors to view his country’s pavilion at the Yeosu Expo. The 786-square-meter pavilion is made up of six sections ― the highlight of which, Alharthy says, is the 44-seat 4-D cinema.“The most interesting and attractive thing is the 4-D cinema that we have in the pavilion,” said Alharthy at the new Omani Embassy building in Jongno in central Seoul.“In the 4-D cinema, a person can really feel and touch the ocea
May 20, 2012
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Asia eyes new shipping routes as Arctic ice melts
As global warming melts the polar ice caps, interest is shifting away from environmental concerns and toward the region’s untapped economic potential. The melt will mean havoc for the Arctic region’s wildlife as native animals’ habitats are disrupted. But rising temperatures will also unlock natural resources. The U.S. Geological Survey estimates that the Arctic has 90 billion barrels of oil and 1,670 trillion cubic feet of natural gas. But for Korea, the immediate interest may lie in the new sh
May 20, 2012
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EU assures euro will prevail
A high-level member of the European Commission has reassured Korea’s prime minister that the “doomsday scenario” of a collapse of the euro will not come to pass. EU Commission vice president Maros Sefcovic said that Prime Minister Kim Hwang-sik shared his optimism that the eurozone would weather the debt crisis.Sefcovic met Kim in Seoul on Wednesday to discuss trade and cooperation on the same day that shares for the single currency hit a four-month low and Spain and Italy saw their borrowing c
May 20, 2012
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S. Korean ambassador performs in Chinese opera
South Korea's envoy to China made a surprise appearance in a performance of the traditional Beijing opera, diplomatic sources said Saturday. Ambassador Lee Kyu-hyung helped put on the Beijing opera piece"Wujia Po" in a performance held at the official residence ofSeoul's top diplomat in the Chinese capital. The event was hosted by the Beijing opera federation, aninformal group within China's f
May 19, 2012
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Korea, Guatemala to promote ties
The foreign ministers of South Korea and Guatemala held talks Friday in Seoul to discuss how to promote trade and investment between the two nations, Seoul officials said.The talks between Foreign Minister Kim Sung-hwan and his Guatemalan counterpart Harold Caballeros focused on “the promotion of trade and investment, security cooperation in Central America and protection of Korean nationals living in Guatemala,” a ministry official said. Caballeros arrived in Seoul Thursday for a two-day visit
May 18, 2012
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Japan criticizes women’s rights museum
The Japanese Embassy in Seoul has lodged a complaint on South Korea’s funding of the local War and Women’s Human Rights Museum, stating that content regarding the so-called “comfort women” in the exhibit did not comply with Japan’s stance. The museum celebrated its grand open early this month, established by the Korean Council for the Women Drafted for Military Sexual Slavery by Japan in order to support compensation for the South Korean women who were forced to become sex slaves for the Japanes
May 18, 2012
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Norway, Finland support Korea’s Arctic plan
Korea has secured support from Norway and Finland in its bid to become a permanent observer to the Arctic Council, a multinational forum on energy, shipping, exploration and other crucial issues in the North Pole region. Korea has been striving to boost its presence in the Arctic as global powers jockey to take advantage of its huge resources, strategic location and new key sea routes opening up with the rapidly melting ice sheets.“Norway and Finland have been very active in working with us. The
May 15, 2012
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Korea seeks bigger role in Arctic
Energy-hungry emerging economy eyes resources reserves, shipping lanes, permanent status at Arctic CouncilKorea is stepping up its foray into the Arctic as melting ice caps are opening up a treasure trove of untapped resources, new sea routes and potential for scientific discovery. Despite its late entry and lack of major energy corporations, Korea can harness its edge in shipbuilding and engineering in one of the world’s last uncharted frontiers, experts say. Korea is hoping to boost its presen
May 15, 2012
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Korea’s international aid focuses on independent development
VIENTIANE ― As a recently wealthy member of the international community, Korea is obliged to increase its aid for developing countries and its best option is sharing the lessons learned from its growth, which other nations can follow, said the head of the Laos branch of Korea’s aid agency. “Developing countries face various obstacles when trying to stand on their own feet,” Kwon Young-eui, chief of the Korea International Cooperation Agency office in Vientiane, told The Korea Herald. “Korea may
May 13, 2012