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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Foreign Minister Kim to hold Twitter conference
Foreign Minister Kim Sung-hwan, considered the most active user of social networking services among South Korea‘s cabinet ministers, will hold a Twitter conference next week with the public, the ministry said Saturday.It said Kim and Ha Young-sun, a political science professor at Seoul National University, will talk about a range of foreign policy issues as the minister takes and answers questions on Twitter and Facebook.The ministry said the 100 people who registered through Twitter can attend
Jan. 8, 2012
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Havel’s inspiration honored in Seoul
The legacy of Vaclav Havel should inspire commitment to promoting human rights and democracy in North Korea, the director of South Korea’s Human Rights Special Committee has said. Kim Tae-hoon praised the former Czech president, who died in December, at a memorial in Seoul on Friday. “Havel’s life was a most noble one, dedicated to democracy and human rights, and I lack the words to give it due honor,” said Kim at the ceremony on the 35th anniversary of Charter 77. The leader helped author the C
Jan. 8, 2012
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South Korea willing to hold talks with new NK leader
Foreign Minister Kim Sung-hwan said Thursday South Korea would consider holding talks with North Korea’s new leader Kim Jong-un at the Seoul Nuclear Summit in March.“If he takes up an appropriate title when we hold talks with North Korea, the talks will be held with him” Kim told reporters in Seoul, after briefing President Lee Myung-bak on 2012 policy plans.In the aftermath of the death of the North’s long-time leader Kim Jong-il on Dec. 17, his son ― believed to be in his late 20s ― took over
Jan. 5, 2012
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Stability of Korean peninsula, 2012 top priority for foreign ministry
South Korea’s foreign ministry said its top priority in carrying out 2012 policy will be keeping the Korean peninsula stable, as a power transition in North Korea under untested young leader Kim Jong-un is likely to add up uncertainties.In the aftermath of the death of the North’s long-time leader Kim Jong-il on Dec. 17, his son -- believed to be in his late 20s -- took over power of the 1.02 million-strong military and the Workers’ Party in a relatively short period of time.However, it is uncle
Jan. 5, 2012
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Seoul to request exception from U.S.’ Iran sanctions
Seoul will request that the U.S. make an exception for Korea in the application of the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2012 that calls for stronger measures against Iran, sources said Monday.“There is a need for the government to visit the U.S. at an appropriate time to hold discussions regarding the National Defense Authorization Act,” an unnamed government official was quoted as saying by a local news agency. In addition, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade is reported
Jan. 2, 2012
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U.N. chief expresses hopes for eased tensions in Korea
UNITED NATIONS (Yonhap News) ― U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon said Friday he hopes to see tensions on the Korean Peninsula and in Northeast Asia ease next year, saying 2012 will be a very important one for Koreans.In a New Year’s message to the people of his native South Korea, Ban also said he will provide unsparing support as U.N. chief to help reduce tensions on the divided peninsula and in the region.Ban said that the year 2012 will be “very important” for the Korean Peninsula, apparentl
Jan. 1, 2012
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German cinema screening in Seoul
German film “Crazy” is to be shown at the Goethe Institut in Seoul at 7 p.m. on Jan. 6 as part of its ongoing film series.The free screenings offer German movies to the public with either English or Korean subtitles until Feb. 17. The German film “Wholetrain” will be shown with Korean subtitles on Jan. 20, and “Wahrheit oder Pflicht” will be screened with English subtitles on Feb 3. The film “Prinzessinnenbad” will then be shown with English subtitles on Feb. 17. Screenings are being held at the
Jan. 1, 2012
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Czechs and Koreans to work away
Young people from Korea and the Czech Republic will soon be able to take working holidays in each other’s countries. The Czech and Korean governments have signed an agreement on a Working Holiday Program to allow people under the age of 30 from both countries to stay and work in the other country for a set period of time.The agreement signed by the Czech Minister of Foreign Affairs Karel Schwarzenberg and Korean Ambassador to the Czech Republic Gabriel Oh in December and will take effect in the
Jan. 1, 2012
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Arab countries and Koreans join in Seoul
The Iraqi ambassador to Korea and diplomats from other Arab countries have joined a forum to help future leaders from their countries make connections here.The event co-hosted by the Foreign Ministry and the Korea-Arab Society saw 150 people including Korean and Arab students come together to promote human exchanges between the two regions.KAS Secretary-General Choi Seung-hoh along with Korea’s ambassador for public diplomacy Ma Young-sam, and the country’s director-general for African and Middl
Jan. 1, 2012
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Ecuador awards Korean business chief
Ecuador’s coat of arms has been presented to Daesung Group chief Kim Young-tae to recognize his work to promote ties between Korea and the Latin American country. The chairman and CEO of the energy conglomerate has been an honorary consul of Ecuador to Seoul since August 2006.“I have been consul to Ecuador for five years and during that time I have always striven to foster even better cultural understanding between Korea and Ecuador,” Kim said. “Next year will mark the 50th anniversary of the es
Jan. 1, 2012
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Seoul City, Minsk celebrate sistership ties
A Belarusian diplomat in Korea has been recognized for boosting cooperation between Minsk and Seoul.Seoul Mayor Park Won-soon voiced his appreciation to first secretary Dmitry Sudas at the embassy of Belarus in Korea on FridayKim Jin-man, director of the Seoul Metropolitan Government’s International Cooperation Division congratulated Sudas on his hard work to strengthen ties between the countries, and Sudas added: “Minsk and Seoul now call each other sister cities and this would not have been po
Jan. 1, 2012
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Linguists set to interview ambassadors
Korean students with foreign language skills are being invited to interview ambassadors posted here to help bridge cultural gaps.Students proficient in one of 20 languages are being sought to question foreign diplomats on their jobs and their impressions of Korea.Citizens who are near fluent in a European language such as English, French, Italian, Portuguese, German, Polish, Swedish or Spanish are eligible for the program. Those who can speak Japanese, Chinese, Thai, Arabic, Vietnamese, Indonesi
Jan. 1, 2012
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Envoy says ancient Mayans predicted harmony, not disaster
It could be said that 2011 was a year to which the old Chinese proverb “May you live in interesting times” has been amply applied. Civic uprisings toppled Middle East regimes; continuing economic crises blighted America and Europe and a series of natural disasters were wrought across the globe.But some interpretations of the ancient Mayan calendar have predicted even more dramatic events to befall us by the close of 2012 ― the end of the world.Cults and Hollywood disaster movies have pegged the
Jan. 1, 2012
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Veteran economist named new trade minister
SEOUL, Dec. 30 (Yonhap) -- President Lee Myung-bak named a veteran economist as trade minister on Friday, an official said, as the country's free trade agreement with the United States is set to take effect early next year. In a minor Cabinet reshuffle, Bark Tae-ho, a professor of the Graduate Schoo
Dec. 30, 2011
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First ‘diplomat academy’ admission set for 2013
The Foreign Ministry said it will administer the first admission test for the tentatively named Korea National Diplomat Academy in early 2013 to secure a pool of trained diplomats who can serve from 2014.As the current written exam for recruiting diplomats will be scrapped soon, the government is to select about 60 trainees through the admission test and choose 40 of them to work at the Foreign Ministry.The government’s move came as it believes the new system of diplomat recruitment will help ma
Dec. 29, 2011
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Korea, China press talk for stability
Vice ministers discuss N.K., illegal fishing at highest-level meeting since Kim’s deathSouth Korea and China agreed to strengthen “strategic communication” in seeking stability in the region at high-level talks held in Seoul on Tuesday.Conducted by Vice Minister of Foreign Affairs Park Suk-hwan and Chinese Vice Foreign Minister Zhang Zhijun, the meeting was of the highest level since news of North Korean leader Kim Jong-il’s death was announced on Dec. 19.“The two countries share the opinion tha
Dec. 27, 2011
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Polish Embassy marks end of EU presidency
The Polish Embassy in Korea has held a reception in Seoul to mark the end of Poland’s presidency of the European Union. The event hosted by Polish Ambassador Krzysztof Majka at the Seoul Hilton hotel was held to recognize Poland’s role in Europe as its six-month period at the head of the EU Parliament draws to a close at the year’s end. He and his wife greeted other foreign diplomats in Korea at the Hilton Hotel in Seoul on Wednesday. The European Parliament has a rotating presidential system wh
Dec. 25, 2011
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Chance to learn Hebrew in Seoul
The Israel Culture Center in Seoul is to hold modern Hebrew courses for business and travel as well as biblical Hebrew classes from January until March. The modern language classes aim to lay out basic Hebrew concepts in a fun learning environment while the biblical Hebrew course is suitable for those who would like to one day read the Old Testament in Hebrew. Classes for different levels and interests will be held weekly on different days from Jan. 6 until March 7. Each course costs 180,000 won
Dec. 25, 2011
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Native American life shown in Gyeonggi
Photos of Native Americans are being showcased in Gyeonggi Province in an exhibition sponsored by the U.S. Embassy Korea. The exhibition titled “The North American Indian” is said to offer one of the most prolific and controversial representations of traditional American Indian culture ever produced, detailing customs and traditions as well as daily life. The collection of Edward S. Curtis photographs is being displayed at the Sodam Han Gallery in Gyeonggido Arts Center from now until March 11.T
Dec. 25, 2011
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Singapore scholarships now open
Application to a Singapore-sponsored scholarship for 2012 is now open until Jan. 17. The Dr. Goh Keng Swee Scholarship Fund supports up to 4 years of undergraduate study, providing tuition and other compulsory fees; return airfare to Singapore, as well as living allowances. It was set up by the financial community in Singapore in honor of the country’s former deputy prime minister, who fostered Singapore’s economic development as an international financial centre. The private sector scholarship
Dec. 25, 2011