[Herald Interview] Estonian leader highlights shared values, historical struggles as basis for stronger ties

Estonia and South Korea have more in common than one might realize. From historic struggles to defend their freedom to the goal of building a digitally advanced democracy, their similarities and shared values work to unite the two nations on both security and the economy, Estonian President Alar Karis, told The Korea Herald in an interview in Seoul. “More than ever, the security in the Euro-Atlantic area and the security in the Pacific region around Korea are interconnected. We understan

Oct. 12, 2023

[Photo News] Day of German Unity

(From left) Germany Trade & Invest (GTAI) Chairwoman Julia Braune, German Ambassador-designate to South Korea Georg Schmidt, South Korean Land Minister Won Hee-ryong, Baden-Württemberg (a German state) Minister for Rural Affairs and Consumer Protection Peter Hauk pose for a photo celebrating the Day of German Unity at Grand Hyatt Seoul in Yongsan-gu, Seoul on Wednesday. (German Embassy in Seoul)

Oct. 10, 2023

[Photo News] Housing solutions in Asia-Pacific

Luis Noda, Asia-Pacific vice president of Habitat for Humanity International, speaks at a press conference at the Korea Press Center in Seoul on Friday. Noda urged stakeholders to take sustainable approaches to adequate housing in informal settlements. The conference was held ahead of the ninth Asia-Pacific Housing Forum 2023, to be held in Suwon, Gyeonggi Province, from Oct. 26 to 27.

Oct. 10, 2023

Indian Embassy holds Sarang festival to promote cultural exchange

The Indian Embassy in Seoul is celebrating the ninth edition of the Sarang festival, a cultural event aimed at fostering people-to-people connections through cultural exchanges between India and Korea. The word "sarang" holds significant meaning for both Koreans and Indians. In Korean, "sarang" means "love," while for Indians, it represents diversity and symbolizes the vibrant colors of India. This year's Sarang festival, which kicked off Friday, has been exp

Oct. 10, 2023

UAM, robotics crucial for Denmark, Korea: Odense mayor

The head of Denmark's city of Odense urged stronger cooperation with Korea in urban air mobility, artificial intelligence and robotics in an interview with The Korea Herald last week. Mayor Peter Rahbaek Juel was in Korea to attend the 12th biennial World Cities Summit Mayors Forum in Seoul and to step up cooperation in the new transportation method. Odense, Denmark's third-largest city, is making efforts to create an operational environment for urban air mobility and infrastructure li

Oct. 10, 2023

Governor promotes Jeju's sustainable future at GBF

Oh Young-hun, the governor of Jeju special self-governing province, highlighted the island's business environment and the municipality's support measures to pursue sustainable future at a forum in Seoul on Wednesday. Speaking at the fourth edition of The Korea Herald's Global Biz Forum, Oh said Jeju had launched green hydrogen production in the island's northeastern region with an aim to usher in a zero-carbon era. "The island already operates buses powered by green hydr

Oct. 5, 2023

British MP hopes for enhanced UK-Korea ties under Pacific trade pact

Adam Afriyie, a UK member of Parliament, hopes to see UK-Korean trade and economic ties advance to the next level, the lawmaker said in an interview with The Korea Herald on Friday. Afriyie touched on Korea's potential inclusion in the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP), highlighting the prospect of increased economic cooperation between the two nations. The CPTPP is a major free trade pact comprising 11 Asia-Pacific countries. South Korea became a

Sept. 27, 2023

Uzbekistan, Korea boost customs cooperation

Uzbekistan and Korea agreed to boost customs cooperation in Tashkent on Friday. Uzbekistan’s customs committee chairman Akmalkhuja Mavlonov and chief of the Korea Customs Service Ko Kwang-hyo signed a protocol amending the Uzbekistan-South Korea agreement on cooperation and mutual assistance in customs. According to Uzbekistan's customs committee, the two sides agreed to solidify technical cooperation to crack down on trade crimes, develop customs administration capabilities, and oper

Sept. 26, 2023

[Photo News] Cultural diplomacy

The Greek Embassy and Corea Image Communication Institute (CICI) co-hosted a forum acknowledging the growth of social media communication as part of an initiative to strengthen cultural diplomacy at the Greek ambassador’s residence in Seongbuk-gu, Seoul, on Tuesday. The event was attended by members of the diplomatic corps, CICI members, the media and members of the Greek community in Korea. (CICI)

Sept. 25, 2023

'Cross-cultural exchanges crucial to Mexico-Korea ties'

Mexico's ambassador to Korea, Carlos Penafiel Soto, underlined people-to-people connections and the mutual exchange of knowledge as the linchpin of Mexico-Korea ties, marking Mexico’s 213th anniversary of independence from Spain on Wednesday. Mexico declared its independence from Spain in 1810. Noting bilateral strategic partnerships and political dialogue that were developed over six decades, Soto highlighted recent bilateral trade between Mexico and Korea that hit $30 billion in 202

Sept. 19, 2023

Central American nations commemorate Independence Day

Honoring history and pledging to build a new future, the embassies of Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras and Nicaragua commemorated the 202nd Independence anniversary in Seoul on Friday. To commemorate the occasion, the Seoul City Hall building was illuminated in blue and white -- the colors that symbolize the common history of the region. The event was attended by the ambassadors, diplomats, and community members of the Central American countries. Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, H

Sept. 19, 2023

140 years of German-Korean ties celebrated

Alumninetzwerk Deutschland-Korea and the German Embassy in Seoul held an integrated academic conference and press day commemorating the 140th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between Korea and Germany on Monday. Under the theme "Together for another 140 years," the event discoursed on the enduring partnership between South Korea and Germany and encapsulated the spirit of unity and collaboration. The attendees included ADeKo Chairman Kim Hyo-jun, German Ambassado

Sept. 19, 2023

[Herald Interview] 'Indonesia's political stability, regulatory reforms offer new opportunity for Korea Inc.'

Indonesia is on a historic transition from a natural resource-dependent economy to a modern one by fostering manufacturing and service industries as drivers of future growth. During this ongoing transformation, political stability and regulatory reforms are poised to create a business-friendly environment, according to Moeldoko, Indonesia's chief of staff to President Joko Widodo. And the country wants Korean businesses, in particular, to be a part of its journey, he said. In an interview

Sept. 18, 2023

Marking 65th anniversary of relations, ambassador aims to boost Thai-Korean ties

Thai Ambassador to Korea, Witchu Vejjajiva, hoped to stimulate bilateral ties with South Korea by activating people-to-people exchanges and expanding cooperation in the Indo-Pacific region in his remarks at an event commemorating the 65th anniversary of Thai-Korean diplomatic relations on Monday. Reaffirming commitment to usher in a fresh era of cooperation under the new leadership of Thailand's new Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin, and his cabinet, elected by King Maha Vajiralongkorn, Vejja

Sept. 17, 2023

The Korea Herald, Pakistan's the Nation agree to boost media cooperation

The Korea Herald and the Nation, a Pakistani daily founded in 1984, agreed to boost media cooperation through a memorandum of understanding signed in Seoul on Monday. A signing ceremony was held at The Korea Herald headquarters in Seoul, with Pakistan Ambassador to Korea Nabeel Munir, The Korea Herald CEO Choi Jin-young, Nawaiwaqt Group Managing Director Rameeza Majid Nizami, and The Korea Herald Vice President Shin Yong-bae in attendance. The agreement is aimed at creating and exchanging journa

Sept. 12, 2023

Colombian delegates discuss energy partnership with S. Korea

Delegates discussed Colombia's ambitious goals and opportunities for Korean companies in the energy sector at the Colombia-Korea Renewable Energy and Hydrogen Strategic Partnership Seminar co-hosted by the Colombian Embassy in Seoul, ProColombia Korea and the Andi-Naturgas Hydrogen Chamber in Seoul on Tuesday. The event, aimed at fostering clean energy solutions and advancing hydrogen technologies between Colombia and Korea, was attended by delegates from Colombia's top 10 energy compa

Sept. 12, 2023

Uzbekistan highlights Korean diaspora, investors' role

The Uzbek Embassy in Seoul underscored the crucial contributions of Korean investors and the substantial Korean diaspora to the nation's development on its 32nd Independence Day, at Lotte Hotel in Seoul on Monday. Uzbekistan, which joined the Soviet Union in 1924, declared its independence on Aug. 31, 1991. The Korean diaspora in Uzbekistan, known as "Koryoin" or "Koryo-saram," predominantly comprises ethnic Koreans who were forcibly deported from Vladivostok, on the eastern

Sept. 11, 2023

British Embassy to open doors to public during cultural festival next month

"Welcome to our embassy," greeted Colin Crooks, the British ambassador to South Korea, in fluent Korean on Monday as he led a preliminary tour of the legation and the ambassador's residence in a neighborhood in Seoul steeped in the country's early modern history. The British Embassy is among a number of historical venues to be open to the public during the "Jeong-dong Culture Night," a historical and cultural festival in downtown Seoul scheduled for Oct. 13-14. Many

Sept. 11, 2023

Brazil hopes to realize undertakings with Korea

Brazil's Ambassador to Korea Marcia Donner Abreu hoped to realize common undertakings with Korea, as they celebrated the 201st anniversary of Brazilian independence on Sept. 6. Brazil gained independence from Portugal on Sept. 7, 1822. Expressing her hopes for deeper cooperation and the establishment of a Brazil-Korea Strategic Partnership next year, Abreu cited the establishment of Korean companies in Brazil drawn by the vast domestic market and abundant natural resources, making Brazil th

Sept. 11, 2023

[Photo News] NET ZERO 2050

Officials, industry leaders and stakeholders from the Korean-German energy sector pose for photos at a forum held on offshore wind energy in Seoul, Friday. Discussing offshore wind auction design, ramping up the supply chain to support offshore wind at scale and optimizing the grid for offshore wind deployment, experts underlined the common vision of Korea and Germany for technological innovation, sustainable energy transition and offshore wind energy’s role in ensuring a stable energy sup

Sept. 11, 2023