Wildfire rescue team leaves for Canada

A 151-member South Korean disaster relief team has embarked on a 30-day mission Sunday to assist Canada in combating devastating wildfires that have ravaged the country. The team, which includes firefighters, first responders and personnel experienced in disaster response, will land in the province of Quebec to contain the country’s worst wildfire season since 1989. As of Sunday, wildfires had affected at least 8.8 million hectares of land. This marks the second time this year Korea has di

July 2, 2023

[Photo News] Korean wildfire team departs for Canada

South Korea dispatched an emergency firefighting team to Canada on Sunday to support extinguishing the wildfires raging across the North American nation. The 151 workers from the Korea Disaster Relief Team, consisting of firefighters as well as government agency and medical personnel, are headed to Quebec, where they will work for about one month. The dispatch of the KDRT marks the second mission of its kind this year following its activities in Turkey to provide disaster relief following the ma

July 2, 2023

Marine Corps commander to visit Thailand, Indonesia

Marine Corps Commandant Lt. Gen. Kim Gye-hwan will embark on a 10-day trip to Thailand and Indonesia on Sunday, his command said. During the trip through July 11, Kim plans to meet with senior military leaders of the two countries and discuss stability in the Indo-Pacific region and ways to strengthen cooperation, his office said. In particular, Kim will use the meetings to promote the excellence of South Korean weapons systems, as Thailand is working on a project to procure anti-tank weapons, a

July 2, 2023

PM to leave for Trinidad and Tobago for summit of Caribbean nations

Prime Minister Han Duck-soo was to leave for the Caribbean nation of Trinidad and Tobago on Sunday for an annual summit of Caribbean countries on a weeklong trip that will also take him to Panama. Han is scheduled to attend the annual conference of the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) slated for Monday to Wednesday, where he plans to underscore Seoul's commitment to strengthening cooperation with the countries and ask for their support for South Korea's bid to bring the 2030 World Expo

July 2, 2023

S. Korean, Slovenian FMs discuss cooperation in nuclear energy, science technology

The top diplomats of South Korea and Slovenia held consultations Friday to discuss ways to strengthen bilateral ties in areas of nuclear power plants and science technology, Seoul’s foreign ministry said. During their talks held in Seoul, Foreign Minister Park Jin and his Slovenian counterpart, Tanja Fajon, agreed to broaden shipping and logistics cooperation, highlighting an agreement signed between South Korea’s port city of Busan and the Slovenian port of Koper earlier this month.

June 30, 2023

US remains committed to working with S. Korea to secure peace in Indo-Pacific: Pentagon

The United States has and will continue to work with South Korea to ensure peace and stability in the Indo-Pacific, a Pentagon spokesperson said Thursday. The spokesperson, Brig. Gen. Pat Ryder, also reaffirmed US commitment to engaging with North Korea. "From a DoD (Department of Defense) standpoint, certainly we remain committed to working with the Republic of Korea and our partners in the region to ensure peace, stability and security in the region," Ryder said when asked about the

June 30, 2023

S. Korea to send wildfire team to Canada

The South Korean government has decided to send a disaster relief team to Canada to help contain the wildfires there, the Foreign Ministry in Seoul said Thursday. The 151-member team, which includes firefighters, first responders and personnel experienced in disaster response, will land in Canada on Wednesday for a 30-day mission, according to an announcement made during an interagency meeting chaired by Foreign Minister Park Jin. “I hope the team offers momentum for South Korea and Canada

June 29, 2023

Seoul, Washington moving to hold inaugural meeting of Nuclear Consultative Group: ambassador

South Korea and the United States are working to hold their inaugural meeting of the new Nuclear Consultative Group, South Korea's ambassador to the US Cho Hyun-dong said Wednesday. Cho also said the allies have made "progress" toward holding the first meeting of the consultative body created under the Washington Declaration, signed by their leaders in late April. "With North Korea's threat actually materializing, the discussion for the inaugural meeting of the NCG proposed by Sou

June 29, 2023

2 Koreans in Mexico in critical condition after shooting

Two South Koreans are in critical condition after being shot in Mexico, according to the Foreign Ministry in Seoul. The victims, all currently in a local hospital after the afternoon shooting, were shot near Mexico City, the ministry said Tuesday evening, noting it had asked authorities to immediately open an investigation while offering consular services. The ministry did not detail the identity of the victims and it was not immediately clear whether the Koreans were caught in the crossfire.

June 27, 2023

S. Korea, Japan to hold finance ministerial meeting this week in Tokyo

South Korea and Japan plan to hold a financial ministerial meeting this week to discuss bilateral economic ties, the finance ministry said Tuesday. Finance Minister Choo Kyung-ho will meet with his Japanese counterpart, Shunichi Suzuki, in Tokyo on Thursday, according to the Ministry of Economy and Finance. The upcoming meeting marks the first of its kind since 2016. The two had agreed to resume the long-stalled finance ministers' meeting on the sidelines of the 56th Annual Meeting of the B

June 27, 2023

S. Korea to 'participate actively' in building infrastructure for mineral resources in Mongolia: vice FM

South Korea and Mongolia have agreed to boost cooperation in global supply chains, especially in mineral resources, Seoul's foreign ministry said. On Monday, Vice Foreign Minister Lee Do-hoon met Mongolia's Chief Cabinet Secretary Dashzegve Amarbayasgalan at the seventh meeting of the South Korea-Mongolia Joint Committee, a regular high-level comprehensive consultative body, in the Mongolian capital. Stressing the importance of maintaining close partnership amid unstable supply chains

June 27, 2023

Assembly speaker expresses gratitude to Korean War veterans in New Zealand

South Korean National Assembly speaker Kim Jin-pyo met with New Zealand veterans of the Korean War during a visit to Auckland and expressed gratitude for their sacrifices, his office said Tuesday. During the meeting held at a hotel, Kim noted that more than 6,000 New Zealanders fought alongside South Korea during the 1950-53 war when New Zealand's population was less than 2 million and the two countries had no diplomatic relations. "South Korea will continue to strive for world peace a

June 27, 2023

First Lady says she hopes to be 'K-culture salesperson'

First Lady Kim Keon Hee has said she hopes to be a "K-culture salesperson" promoting Korean culture and art overseas, according to a recent interview with a US media outlet. In the written interview with Artnet News, an online art journal, published Monday, Kim also said she believes she can serve as a cultural bridge between South Korea and the United States, citing her experience organizing major exhibitions of artists, such as Mark Rothko, and discussions she had while accompanying

June 27, 2023

[Herald Interview] Wine popularity among Koreans, opportunity for Georgia: deputy minister

The growing popularity of wine among young Koreans is a promising opportunity for Georgia, Yuri Nozadze, Georgian deputy minister of environmental protection and agriculture, told The Korea Herald on Friday. Nozadze was in Seoul last week to attend the Seoul International Wines & Spirits Expo 2023, where 14 Georgian wine producers showcased their extensive range of wines. The expo engaged Korean consumers through wine tastings and establishing potential partnerships, Nozadze said expressing

June 26, 2023

'Majlis’ invite Seoulites to experience Arabic culture

An Arabian Days and Nights event in Seoul is inviting Seoulites to take a seat at their 'majlis' and relax with some Arabic culture. Co-hosted by the Korea-Arab Society, the Embassy of Qatar, and Hyundai Department Store's Trade Center Store, Arabian Days and Nights showcases highlights of Arabic culture. Translating roughly as "sitting room" majlis are areas for entertaining guests and are included on UNESCO's intangible world heritage list. Mosque lamps and carpet

June 26, 2023

Korea, Vietnam forge stronger economic ties during Yoon’s visit

President Yoon Suk Yeol concluded his state visit to Vietnam, solidifying economic cooperation between the two nations and ushering in a new era of forward-looking collaboration. Accompanied by a 205-member business delegation, President Yoon observed the signing of 111 memoranda of understanding between business leaders of the two countries as well as trade consultations made for some 100 companies. Calling it a significant development in bilateral trade, Yoon's visit has set the stage for

June 25, 2023

Yoon, Thuong pledge to strengthen bilateral ties at state dinner

President Yoon Suk Yeol, who is on a state visit to Vietnam, attended a state dinner hosted by Vietnamese President Vo Van Thuong on Friday, expressing his hopes for stronger friendship and vowing to increase investment in the nation. "We must continue to increase investment and support for future generations of both countries for prosperity for the next 100 years,” Yoon said at the dinner held at the International Convention Center in Hanoi, on the second day of Yoon's three-day

June 24, 2023

US continues to urge China to act on N. Korea with broader, longer view: Kirby

The United States continues to urge China to use its influence over North Korea to stop the North's illegal weapons development programs, a White House official said Friday. John Kirby, National Security Council coordinator for strategic communications, also suggested that the North's weapons programs would eventually hurt China's own interests down the road. "We know that Beijing has influence in Pyongyang and we continue to urge them to use that influence. We continue to ur

June 24, 2023

Blinken calls S. Korean foreign minister to explain his trip to China

US Secretary of State Antony Blinken has spoken with his South Korean counterpart to explain the outcome of his recent trip to China, a state department spokesperson said Friday. Blinken also reaffirmed US commitment to the South Korea-US alliance in his call with South Korean Foreign Minister Park Jin, according to department spokesperson Matthew Miller. "The secretary updated Foreign Minister Park on his discussions with PRC officials on a wide range of bilateral, regional, and global iss

June 24, 2023

Korea, Vietnam target $150b in trade volume by 2030

President Yoon Suk Yeol and his Vietnamese counterpart, Vo Van Thuong, agreed to strengthen economic and security ties Friday, with the two nations aiming to achieve a trade volume goal of $150 billion by 2030, during a bilateral summit in Hanoi. On his second day in Vietnam, Yoon met Thuong at the Presidential Palace of Hanoi, following his morning visit to the tomb of former President Ho Chi Minh. In his opening remarks during the summit, Yoon expressed his anticipation of forging a "br

June 23, 2023