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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Pikki Pikki dance: Korean cheerleader dance routine takes social media by storm
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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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Evicted guest burns down inn; 3 killed
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U.S. ambassador to Seoul confident of enduring ties with Korea
U.S. Ambassador to Seoul Sung Kim expressed confidence in the resilience of the ties between his country and South Korea, saying he believes the friendship between the U.S. and the country of his birth will survive any challenge.In his second blog post since taking office earlier this month, the Korean-American ambassador said two of his main missions here are to “strengthen and deepen” both the bilateral alliance and people-to-people ties. He is the first Korean-American to serve as Washington’
Nov. 24, 2011
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Private-sector forum to seek better aid partnership
A private sector forum to be held during an international gathering on foreign aid in Busan will be an opportunity for a better partnership between the public and private sectors in expanding international development, the Foreign Ministry said Thursday.The Forth High Level Forum on Aid Effectiveness will be held at BEXCO Convention Center from Nov. 29 to Dec. 1. The forum will attract about 2,000 delegates including ministers, government representatives, lawmakers, civic groups and private sect
Nov. 24, 2011
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U.S. welcomes Seoul’s ratification of FTA
WASHINGTON (Yonhap News) ― U.S. Trade Representative Ron Kirk on Tuesday welcomed South Korea’s ratification of the Korea-U.S. Free Trade Agreement and vowed close cooperation to put it into effect at an early date.“The United States welcomes the Korean National Assembly’s approval of the KORUS FTA,” he said in a brief statement. “This is a win-win agreement that will provide significant economic and strategic benefits to both countries. We look forward to working closely with the government of
Nov. 23, 2011
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Foreign Ministry reviews scrapping own English test grades
The Ministry for Foreign Affairs and Trade, which came under fire in September for its officials’ suspected lack of ability to communicate in English, is considering scrapping its in-house English test grades, the ministry said Tuesday.“Foreign Ministry’s assessment on diplomats’ English proficiency has had a stricter standard. For example, a person who gets 800 in the (Test of English Proficiency) is rated TEPS 2 in general, but rated at the lowest fifth level at the ministry,” Foreign Ministry
Nov. 22, 2011
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N.Korea’s denuclearization first, six-party talks later: Sherman
North Korea should stop its uranium enrichment program and implement denuclearization measures if it wants to resume the stalled six-party talks, a senior U.S. diplomat said Tuesday.“I think that both the Republic of Korea, the United States and our other partners have been very clear on what North Korea must do to be able to have a resumption of the six-party talks,” U.S. Under-Secretary of State for Political Affairs Wendy Sherman told reporters in Seoul after meeting with South Korean foreign
Nov. 22, 2011
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U.S. undersecretary of state visits Seoul
Wendy R. Sherman, a top U.S. State Department official, arrived in Seoul on Monday evening for talks with South Korean officials to discuss alliance issues.Sherman’s visit to Seoul is her first since being appointed undersecretary of state for political affairs in July.It is part of her three-day trip to Asia ― Tokyo on Sunday, Seoul on Monday and Tuesday and Beijing later on Tuesday.“Ambassador Sherman travels to Seoul on Nov. 21. On Nov. 22, she will meet with a range of senior officials to ex
Nov. 21, 2011
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S. Korean students expected to get Chinese visa waiver next year
SEOUL, Nov. 21 (Yonhap) -- Teenage South Korean students are expected to enjoy visa-free travel to China for short-term school trips beginning early next year, an official at Seoul's foreign ministry said Monday.Seoul and Beijing have been in talks to grant visa-waiver status to South Korean element
Nov. 21, 2011
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Libyan delegation to visit S. Korea to discuss economic cooperation
A delegation of Libyan government officials and executives will visit Korea this week to discuss ways to cooperate in the sectors of communications, electricity and others, Seoul officials said Sunday.The Libyan delegation is scheduled to arrive in Seoul on Tuesday for a five-day visit that will be the first official visit to Korea since Libya’s nine-month civil war ended last month with the capture and killing of Moammar Gadhafi, who had ruled there for more than four decades.The areas of coope
Nov. 20, 2011
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Revamped Swedish passports available
As part of ongoing efforts to improve security, the Swedish Embassy announced that the design of passports and identification cards will change for next year.Already issued passports will still be valid for as long as is stated in the passport.Due to the change, the passport system at the embassy will be unavailable between Dec. 26 until Jan. 12. During this period, no applications for ordinary passports or Swedish identification cards will be accepted.The new regulations that came into force tw
Nov. 20, 2011
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Danish Embassy green solution a success
It has been a little over a year since the Danish Embassy launched their in-house program to improve energy efficiency at the chancery.As a result, the embassy spent 43 percent less energy than a year earlier.“In fact, the result of our efforts during this past year has by far exceeded our expectations as our initial goal was to reduce our energy consumption by 10 percent,” said Danish Ambassador Peter Lysholt Hansen.The reduced energy consumption is a result of the green code of conduct encoura
Nov. 20, 2011
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Philippines continues voter Registration
Filipino citizens who intend to vote in South Korea for the Philippines senatorial and party-list elections in May 2013 can now register as overseas absentee voters at the embassy.“Although the registration period is for one year, I encourage everyone to register early and not wait until the last minute to have their names included in the roster of those eligible to vote in 2013,” said Philippines Ambassador Luis T. Cruz.Registration will continue until Oct. 31, 2012 and is available from Monday
Nov. 20, 2011
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German market for charity
The German community and embassy are holding a traditional Christmas market at the German International School.The event will take place on Nov. 26 from 4:30 p.m. to 8 p.m. at the German International School in Hannam-dong.Among other products, there will be Christmas dishes for sale, wine and crafts for children.All proceeds will go to the charity organization Shoulder to Shoulder.More information located at the Germany Embassy’s site at www.seoul.diplo.de.
Nov. 20, 2011
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Hero captain attends national day
The skipper who helped thwart hijackers of Korean vessel the Samho Jewelry was a guest of honor at Oman’s 41st National Day celebrations in Seoul. Captain Seok Hae-kyun suffered multiple bullet wounds when his 11,500-ton ship was taken by Somali pirates on Jan. 15. He was rescued by Korean commandos six days later.The Busan resident had surgery in an Omani hospital before being flown to Korea’s Ajou University Hospital, from which he was released on Nov. 4. Seok has been awarded the Dongbaek Med
Nov. 20, 2011
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Less than stellar year for charity bazaar
This year’s SIWA and Diplomatic Community Bazaar received mixed reactions from participants.For some embassies, it was a good year selling most or all of their products with the profits going to charities in Korea.For others, it was a year that did not bear much fruit despite the amount of labor they put into making it a success.Dressed in traditional dress, the women of the Nordic Club sold out of all their homemade bread, chocolates, Christmas decorations and candles. The only things remaining
Nov. 20, 2011
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Swiss-Korean pact on trade praised after five years
Korea is benefiting from a free trade agreement with Switzerland in spite of a trade deficit with the country, the Swiss economic affairs secretary said on a visit here last week. At a Swiss-Korean Business Council event on Monday, Swiss State Secretary for Economic Affairs Marie-Gabrielle Ineichen-Fleisch praised the two countries’ economic relations during the five years following the enforcement of the EFTA/Swiss-Korea Free Trade Agreement in 2006. “The FTA has been very beneficial for our e
Nov. 20, 2011
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Hong Kong, Seoul connecting on security
A top-ranking Hong Kong security official sought advice from Korean experts on nuclear disaster contingency plans while visiting here last week. Hong Kong Security Secretary Ambrose Lee also called for an international convention to tackle cyber crime across borders during his fifth official trip to meet Korean ministers. Lee met Korean Chairman of the Nuclear Safety and Security Commission Kang Chang-sun to seek advice on disaster contingency plans in the light of the March 11 Fukushima meltdow
Nov. 20, 2011
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Korean envoy to rev up public diplomacy in U.S.
WASHINGTON (Yonhap News) ― The South Korean ambassador to the U.S., Han Duck-soo, plans to visit four U.S. states later this month as part of efforts to reach out to ordinary people under an annual “Ambassadors’ Dialogue on Korea” program, the Korea Economic Institute said Wednesday.Han will be accompanied by former U.S. ambassador to Seoul Kathleen Stephens and Jack Pritchard, president of the KEI, on the five-day tour of Missouri, Utah, Nevada and Arizona to start on Nov. 29, according to the
Nov. 17, 2011
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Less than stellar year for charity bazaar
Less than stellar year for charity bazaarBy Yoav CerralboThis year’s SIWA and Diplomatic Community Bazaar received mixed reactions from participants.For some embassies, it was a good year selling most or all of their products with the profits going to charities in Korea.For others, it was a year that did not bear much fruit despite the amount of labor they put into making it a success.Dressed in traditional dress, the women of the Nordic Club sold out of all their homemade bread, chocolates, Chr
Nov. 17, 2011
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U.S. open to talks over ISD settlement: official
WASHINGTON (Yonhap News) ― The United States is willing to discuss the controversial issue of investor-state dispute settlement with South Korea once their free trade agreement takes effect, a U.S. trade official said Tuesday.“We are prepared to consult with Korea on any issue they may raise pertaining to KORUS after entry into force of the agreement,” the official told Yonhap News Agency on the condition of anonymity. The official said South Korean Trade Minister Kim Jong-hoon and his American
Nov. 16, 2011
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Thai envoy to fight wife’s death in Seoul, Bangkok
The Thai ambassador to Korea plans to take the Seoul hospital where his wife died to court both here and in Thailand, embassy officials said Tuesday. Ambassador Chaiyong Satjipanon has filed a criminal complaint with the Korean police accusing Soonchunhyang University Hospital of medical malpractice and a lack of professionalism leading to the death of his wife Thitinart Satjipanon. He intends to pursue similar proceedings in Bangkok. He claims that staff negligence at the hospital’s internation
Nov. 15, 2011