The Korea Herald

Diplomats criticized for taking selfies while causing protocol blunder

Some senior diplomats have found themselves in the center of controversy after being spotted taking selfies the same day a protocol error was made during President Park Geun-hye’s participation at the Nuclear Security Summit in Washington last week. Recent video footage captured the scene where U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon came to see the president before the conference’s plenary session kicked off last Friday. As the two shook hands and exchanged conversation, Choi Jong-moon, deputy minis

April 6, 2016

Guatemala opens honorary consulate in Busan

Guatemalan Ambassador Gustavo Lopez (second from left) and Honorary Consul of Guatemala Lim Soo-bok (second from right) pose beside their spouses at a ceremony marking the inauguration of the honorary consulate in Busan on March 23. (Guatemalan Embassy)The Guatemalan Embassy opened an honorary consulate in Busan in March. The inaugural ceremony on March 23 was attended by Guatemalan Ambassador Gustavo Lopez, Honorary Consul Lim Soo-bok, diplomats, related representatives and Guatemalans in Korea

April 4, 2016

Guatemala opens honorary consulate in Busan

Turkey to host world humanitarian summit

The following was contributed by Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu ahead of the United Nations World Humanitarian Summit on May 23 and 24. – Ed.Despite worldwide shock and indignation, it looks as if little Syrian boy Aylan Kurdi’s tragic death last summer has changed little. We are saddened by our collective negation.The power of image and social media, so effective in entertainment, has betrayed those less fortunate. Since Aylan’s death six months ago, countless more innocent men, wome

April 4, 2016

Soy milk plant to nourish Afghan lives

Nutrition and Education International, a nongovernmental organization, hosted a ceremony marking the shipment of equipment for a sterilized soy milk plant in Afghanistan. Twenty-five containers were shipped from Busan to Karachi in southern Pakistan, to be transported to Afghanistan, where the plant is scheduled to be constructed and operational by September. The venue at Daesung Food Tech Corporation headquarters in Suwon, Gyeonggi Province, on March 25 was attended by representatives from Worl

April 4, 2016

Mexico, Korea strengthen strategic partnership

The following was contributed by Jose Luis Bernal, the Mexican ambassador to Korea. -- Ed.The people and government of Mexico warmly welcome President Park Geun-hye’s state visit to our country from Saturday to Tuesday. We are convinced that Park’s encounter with her counterpart President Enrique Pena Nieto, along with the bilateral business forum in Mexico City, will open new ways of friendship and collaboration. Her visit will enhance our strategic partnership forged over the last 10 years.The

April 4, 2016

Mexico, Korea strengthen strategic partnership

S. Korea, U.S., Japan seeking to schedule vice foreign ministerial meeting in Seoul: source

South Korea, the United States and Japan are trying to schedule a three-way vice foreign ministerial meeting in Seoul sometime in April, a government source here said Sunday. If it materializes, it will be the second meeting of South Korean Vice Foreign Minister Lim Sung-nam, U.S. Deputy Secretary of State Tony Blinken and Japanese Vice Foreign Minister Akitaka Saiki this year. The three diplomats previously met in Tokyo on Jan. 16,10 days after North Korea's fourth nuclear test. The first t

April 3, 2016

‘Thailand presents sustainable business opportunities’

Thailand -- the second-largest economy in Southeast Asia -- is seeking new partners for a sustainable future. Similar to Korea, the country has been striving to reform its economy and strengthen its competitiveness amid slowing global growth. “These challenges also present us with opportunities to work together, to reach new heights in our cooperation,” Thai Ambassador Sarun Charoensuwan said in a speech at a seminar titled “Thailand: Moving Forward Toward Sustainable Growth” on March. 24. “Thai

April 3, 2016

‘Thailand presents sustainable business opportunities’

Greece, Korea mark silver jubilee

By Dionisios Sourvanos, Greek ambassador to Korea The Greek War of Independence started on March 25, 1821, leading to the internationally recognized birth of the modern Greek state in 1830. This year, Greece celebrates the 195th anniversary of the war against the Ottoman rule and its 186th anniversary of independence. Greece and Korea have enjoyed long friendship and cooperation through our common struggle for peace and democracy. Most importantly, the two countries forged an unbreakable fratern

March 27, 2016

French innovation hub launched in Seoul

France, which has Europe’s second-largest venture capital ecosystem, launched a start-up incubator called French Tech Hub Seoul last week to bolster partnerships with small and medium-sized Korean enterprises in high-tech industries. A key part of the France-Korea Year 2015-16 celebrations marking the 130th anniversary of diplomatic relations, the platform will bring together venture companies in the information communications technology, financial technology and electronic commerce, as well as

March 27, 2016

Pakistan celebrates commercial ties with Korea

　The Pakistani Embassy marked the 76th anniversary of the nation’s constitution as well as growing commerce with Korea at a reception last week. 　The National Day on March 23 celebrates the adoption of a resolution in 1940 that later created an independent homeland for the Muslims of India. 　“Under the dynamic leadership of Quaid-e-Azam Muhammad Ali Jinnah, the founder of Pakistan, our forefathers gave invaluable sacrifices that eventually led to the creation of Pakistan on Aug. 14, 1947,” Pakis

March 27, 2016

Tunisia commemorates independence, democracy

The Tunisian Embassy last week celebrated the 60th anniversary of the country’s independence from France and the start of an institutional democracy following the 2011 Jasmine Revolution. “On 20th March 1956, our country retrieved freedom and sovereignty and set up the foundation of a modern republican state,” Tunisian Ambassador Mohamed Ali Nafti said in a speech at a reception at Lotte Hotel on March 21. “The January 2011 Revolution ushered in a new era of hope for a better future, where digni

March 27, 2016

Tunisia commemorates independence, democracy

Korea, Thailand to boost ties on satellite, smart cities

South Korea and Thailand agreed Thursday to promote bilateral cooperation in science and technology and on a smart city project, as the Southeast Asian country is pushing for various infrastructure projects.The two sides discussed ways to strengthen partnerships and signed two related memoranda of understanding in ministerial meetings here, according to the Ministry of Science, ICT and Future Planning. ICT is an acronym for information and communication technology.Minister Choi Yang-hee held sep

March 24, 2016

Chinese envoy touts Korea-China relations as 'best' in decades

China's top envoy to South Korea on Thursday touted the relationship between the two neighbors as the "best" since the establishment of their diplomatic ties in 1992, saying that their common interests have been increasing "unprecedentedly."The remarks by Chinese Ambassador to Korea Qiu Guohong came a month after he warned the bilateral relations would be "destroyed" should an advanced U.S. missile defense system be deployed to the Korean Peninsula."China and South Korea are currently in a perio

March 24, 2016

Korea, France vow to jointly tackle N.K. provocations, human rights

South Korea and France vowed Thursday to jointly tackle North Korea's provocations and human rights abuses as they marked a key anniversary in their bilateral ties.At a forum celebrating 130 years of diplomatic relations, Foreign Minister Yun Byung-se and his French counterpart, Jean-Marc Ayrault, noted the threats posed by North Korea's nuclear and missile programs, and the acute suffering of its people."North Korea, from the outset of the year, is threatening the entire world with its fourth n

March 24, 2016

French minister says Korea-France relationship is at its peak

The relationship between South Korea and France is "at its peak" now with brisk exchanges in science, culture, economics and other realms, the French top diplomat said Wednesday, expressing hopes for continued future-oriented cooperation. In an interview with Yonhap News Agency in Seoul, French Foreign Minister Jean-Marc Ayrault said that despite historical and language differences, the two countries have "many things in common," which would help further cement their long-standing amicable ties.

March 24, 2016

France to open events to mark 130th anniversary of diplomatic ties

France will showcase various aspects of its culture in South Korea for a year starting Wednesday as part of the two countries' joint program to celebrate the 130th anniversary of diplomatic ties, organizers said.The two countries have been celebrating the anniversary, which falls on June 4 this year, in the largest scale ever, with about 350 events in such areas as culture, education, science-technology, economy and industry. The events first kicked off in September of last year.In 2010, the cou

March 23, 2016

Philippine embassy opens cultural office

PHILIPPINE CULTURAL PROMOTION -- Sentro Rizal Seoul, a cultural promotion office in Philippine diplomatic missions worldwide, was inaugurated in the Philippine Embassy in Seoul on March 6. Established in 2009 as a national heritage, Sentro Rizal is dedicated to promoting Filipino culture, arts and language. In the picture (from left to right) are Seoul Global Center director Paul Carver, Seoul Culture Association president Jeong Jae-min, Philippine Ambassador Raul S. Hernandez, National Commissi

March 20, 2016

Philippine embassy opens cultural office

Dominica honors ex-Korean ambassador

Dominican Republic Ambassador Grecia Fiordalicia Pichardo honored Park Dong-sil, former Korean ambassador to the Caribbean nation, last week for strengthening bilateral ties. In a ceremony on Wednesday, Park was awarded “the Order of Merit of Duarte, Sanchez and Mella,” conferred by the Dominican Republic president to individuals who have performed distinguished services. Park, currently the Korean ambassador to Morocco, served as an envoy to the Dominican Republic from 2011 to 2014. The award i

March 20, 2016

Ireland, Korea mark historic, economic ties

The Irish Embassy last week celebrated St. Patrick’s Day and the centenary of the Easter 1916 Uprising that led to the country’s independence from Britain in 1922. At a reception at Grand Hyatt Seoul on Tuesday, Irish Ambassador Aingeal O’Donoghue said the uprising was “a pivotal moment” in Irish history for national liberation. “Hundred years ago, the world was a very different place. Ireland was still under British rule, Korea was under Japanese rule and Europe was ravaged by devastating war,”

March 20, 2016

Ireland, Korea mark historic, economic ties

Media scholar talks about digital, social revolution

In the digital age, journalists who are jacks-of-all-trades will be increasingly valued, a renowned media scholar said, stressing that quality content is increasingly prized and reporters need to differentiate their work.“Journalists will need more skills, because readers already know what happened from an array of sources,” Alfred Hermida, director and associate professor at the University of British Columbia Graduate School of Journalism, told The Korea Herald last week. “Being a good journali

March 20, 2016