U.S. visa quota not in sight despite FTA

Seoul pushing U.S. Congress for visa allocation for Korean professionalsThe Korean government once set a U.S. visa quota for Korean professionals as a major goal of the Korea-U.S. Free Trade Agreement.However, the bilateral trade deal, ratified by the Korean parliament last month, did not include the visa issue at all, disappointing many Korean professionals who hoped to find getting a job in the U.S. easier ― just like Australians who earned a quota of 10,500 a year through a bilateral trade de

Dec. 7, 2011

South Korea, U.S. resume talks on revising nuclear energy pact

South Korea and the United States resumed talks Tuesday on revising a bilateral pact that defines the boundaries of the Asian country’s use of nuclear energy, with Seoul aiming to gain concessions in the area, officials said.The discussions in Seoul were led by Park Ro-byug, South Korea’s envoy for the talks and a former ambassador to Ukraine, and Robert Einhorn, the U.S. State Department’s special adviser for nonproliferation and arms control.The two sides were holding their fourth round of tal

Dec. 6, 2011

Japan to return ancient books Tuesday

Some 1,200 Joseon Dynasty-era books looted by Japan during the colonial era will be returned to Korea on Tuesday afternoon, a government official said.According to the official at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade, the books will be divided and delivered on two flights, each carrying 600 books. The books will arrive at the Incheon International Airport at 3:35 p.m. and 4:35 p.m., respectively, said the official.Korea’s Vice Foreign Minister Park Suk-hwan and Japan’s ambassador to Seoul,

Dec. 5, 2011

U.S. calls on S. Korea to add pressure on Iran

The United States called on South Korea Monday to add pressure on Iran over its alleged nuclear weapons program, indicating that the Seoul government could soon impose fresh sanctions on Tehran.The remarks by Robert Einhorn, the State Department‘s special adviser for nonproliferation and arms control, came after the U.S. and several other nations recently announced additional economic sanctions against the Islamic state for its alleged pursuit of nuclear weapons. The measures, targeting Iran’s o

Dec. 5, 2011

Lindenbaum Concert looks to North Korea

Young Korean musicians have been given the chance to perform with top-notch international artists at a Swiss concert in Seoul. So far, 180 talented Korean musicians have practiced for and performed in the annual Lindenbaum Festival Concerts under Swiss Maestro Charles Dutoit, who founded the event along with Hyung Joon-won in 2009.Dutoit started establishing contacts with North Korea this year with the aim of being able to also invite young North Korean musicians to join future Lindenbaum Festiv

Dec. 4, 2011

U.K. event to boost charities, scholarships

The Korea Britain Society will hold its annual dinner at the Westin Chosun Hotel on Wednesday. The dinner in the hotel’s grand ballroom will start at 6:45 p.m. with a speech from Minister of Strategy and Finance Bahk Jae-wan and a performance from celebrated South Korean pianist Yiruma. Funds raised will go toward several Korean charities as well as scholarships funded by the KBS. The society funds students via the Duke of Edinburgh and Chevening scholarships as well as supporting Korean school

Dec. 4, 2011

Busan forum to address key aid agenda

Main issues include ODA alignment, harmonization, accountabilityThe global economy has changed enormously since September 2008, when high-ranking officials from both donor and recipient countries gathered in Accra, Ghana to discuss improving the effectiveness of aid and development cooperation.Recent global crises including food shortages, inflation, the global financial crunch and economic downturns have aggravated the global efforts for development in less-developed countries.The Fourth High-L

Nov. 28, 2011

Exhibition to show how Korea rose from recipient to donor

The Korea International Cooperation Agency said it would hold an exhibition of photographs and videos from Tuesday to Thursday to showcase the way South Korea has transformed itself from an aid recipient to a donor country.On the lobby in front of the Convention Hall on the third floor of BEXCO in Busan, the exhibition will be open to all participants of the Fourth High Level Forum on Aid Effectiveness including government officials from development partners, lawmakers, civic activists and priva

Nov. 28, 2011

Kids to draw on Southeast Asia

A children’s drawing contest is to give Korean elementary school students the chance to depict their favorite place in Southeast Asia. The “My Friend ASEAN” competition aims to raise awareness of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations and to promote global citizenship among the younger generation. The ASEAN-Korea Centre will take entries from Dec. 1-23.Certificates and prizes will be awarded to 70 winners and their artwork will be exhibited at the ASEAN Hall in the Seoul Press Center Buildin

Nov. 27, 2011

Sultanate to showcase Omani oceans at Yeosu

Oman has pledged to introduce its geography, history and culture to the world by taking part in next year’s Yeosu Expo. The Sultanate has set up a ministerial committee to supervise its preparations for the Yeosu 2012 international exposition to run in the South Jeolla Province costal city under the slogan of “Living Oceans and Coasts.”The Omani Sultanate has announced that it will create a 786 square-meter pavilion under the theme of “Care for Marine Wealth” to demonstrate Sultan Qaboos’ desire

Nov. 27, 2011

Asian security “vital” for new U.K. envoy

By Kirsty Taylor The U.K.’s new ambassador to Seoul expressed “major concern” over North Korea’s nuclear weapons programs on his first day in office, but stressed the importance of Britain’s relations with South Korea.“We’re acutely concerned about the role that North Korea plays in proliferation and the way in which it is trying to sell nuclear technology, know-how and equipment to people who are interested in acquiring them,” Scott Wightman said Thursday, a day before presenting his credential

Nov. 27, 2011