IK-CEPA to unlock trade potential of Indonesia, Korea: top envoy

A new trade agreement between Indonesia and South Korea would unlock the trade potential of the two countries, eliminating more than 90 percent of Indonesia-Korea export-import tariff posts, said Gandi Sulistiyanto, Indonesian ambassador to Korea, in an interview with The Korea Herald at Herald Corp. headquarters in central Seoul on Monday. The Indonesia-Korea Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement entered into effect earlier in January, two years after the deal was signed on Dec. 18, 2020

Jan. 17, 2023

Polish ambassador expects further upgrade in bilateral ties this year

Polish ambassador Piotr Ostaszewski said he expects to see further development in bilateral relations this year, noting that the two countries have seen their ties rapidly developing in the wake of $14.7 billion worth of deal to export Korean defense systems and weapons to the European country last year. "The best partnership emerges when both partners understand each other," said Ostaszewski applauding 34 years of Polish-Korea relations that flourished in the 1990s and went through tr

Jan. 16, 2023

Canada reaffirms commitment with Korea to address global challenges

Canadian Embassy reaffirmed its commitment with Korea to address global challenges at an event hosted to mark the 60th anniversary of Canada-Korea diplomatic relations in Seoul on Thursday. Canada established diplomatic relations with Korea on Jan. 14, 1963. Delivering a welcoming address at the event, the Canadian Embassy's Charge d'Affaires, Tamara Mawhinney highlighted the significance of the 60 years of Canada-Korea relations. She expressed Canada's commitment to the Comprehen

Jan. 16, 2023

Belarusian ambassador urges Poland to resolve disputes via dialogue

Belarusian Ambassador to Korea Andrew Chernetsky urged Poland to resolve bilateral disputes over the Russia-Ukraine war and migration crisis on the Polish border through diplomacy and dialogue. Responding to Polish Ambassador to Korea Piotr Ostaszewski's comments in a previous interview with The Korea Herald, Chernetsky said his claims of Belarus' support of Russia in the war were "extremely belligerent" and that addressing such "accusations" via local media is not

Jan. 3, 2023

Kazakhstan discusses new ways to solidify cooperation with Korea

The Kazakh Embassy in Seoul discussed a strategic partnership, cultural linkages and new areas to solidify cooperation with Korea in a roundtable held as part of the 30th anniversary of Kazakhstan-South Korea relations on Dec. 22. Delivering a keynote speech at the roundtable, the Kazakh Ambassador to Korea Bakyt Dyussenbayev assessed significant achievements from the two countries’ political, economic, cultural and humanitarian cooperation. The ambassador noted that trade turnover between

Dec. 29, 2022

UN adopts resolution on Uzbekistan's proposal

In recent years, the authority and reputation of Uzbekistan in the international arena have increased dramatically. This can be seen from the example that the initiatives put forward by the president of our country are supported at the international level, documents of prestigious international organizations are developed and implemented on their basis. At the 75th session of the UN General Assembly in 2020, the head of state put forward several initiatives to strengthen peace and stability at t

Dec. 29, 2022

Burmese activist named recipient of Kim Geun Tae Award

Burmese writer and democracy activist Pencilo has been honored with the Kim Geun Tae Award for her book "Spring Revolution." The award is named after Kim Geun-tae, a pro-democracy activist and politician who laid the cornerstone of South Korean democracy. Pencilo, the author of "Spring Revolution," published a Korean translation of her work in February. Pencilo is an aide to Aung San Suu Kyi. She and six other high-profile figures have been sought after Myanmar's junta on cha

Dec. 29, 2022

Sweden Embassy holds exhibition celebrating dreams, visions of people with Down syndrome

The Embassy of Sweden and the Korea Foundation is co-hosting Icons, an exhibition of 21 portraits of people with Down syndrome, at the Korea Foundation Gallery in Jongno-gu, central Seoul. The event runs through Feb. 9. The photographed portraits, which show models with Down syndrome representing various famous icons in popular culture, art and society, aims at challenging the preconceptions about beauty and other social standards. The exhibition brings often marginalized groups of people to c

Dec. 27, 2022

[Herald Interview] Poland-Korea partnership crucial for Ukraine rebuild

Polish Finance Minister Magdalena Rzeczkowska said it is important to provide financial assistance to Ukraine by establishing platforms that bring international financial institutions, governments and private investors together, and South Korea could be part of such efforts. "Ukraine needs help for now," said Rzeczkowska in an interview with The Korea Herald, urging Polish and Korean companies to activate partnerships for rebuilding Ukraine and to utilize Poland’s investment clim

Dec. 20, 2022

Bangladesh honors EPS workers on Int'l Migrants Day in Korea

The Bangladesh Embassy in Seoul honored 26 Bangladeshi Employment Permit System (EPS) workers in six categories at an event held to celebrate the International Migrants Day 2022 last week. Korea introduced the work permit system in 2004 to systematically manage the foreign workforce in Korea and resolve labor shortages at local small and medium-sized companies. The workers were honored for being employed under same employer for the longest period of time; receiving awards from the Korean governm

Dec. 20, 2022

Qatar stresses elevated ties with Korea at national day celebration

  The Qatari Embassy vowed to boost economic and cultural cooperation with Korea during its national day celebrations here last week. Qatar’s national day, which falls on Dec. 18, commemorates the 1878 accession of Sheikh Jassim bin Mohammed bin Thani, who unified the Qatari peninsula, which borders Saudi Arabia and juts into the Persian Gulf. Citing the vision of Emir of Qatar Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, Qatari Ambassador Khalid Ibrahim al-Hamar said Qatar’s approach focused on c

Dec. 20, 2022

Indian embassy celebrates 49th anniversary of bilateral ties

The Indian Embassy in Seoul hosted an event to mark the 49th anniversary of India-Korea diplomatic relations in Seoul Friday. The event was organized as part of a curtain raiser for yearlong celebrations of 50 years of bilateral ties in 2023. Delivering remarks at the event, Indian Ambassador to Korea Amit Kumar recalled major events and the history between the two countries, stressing India's role during the 1950-53 Korean War and the Special Strategic Partnership forged in 2015. Kumar sai

Dec. 20, 2022

ASEAN-Korea Center to release videos of tourist sites in 4 countries

The ASEAN-Korea Center is to release videos of tourist sites in four Southeast Asian nations to boost tourism cooperation with its member countries, it said in a statement Thursday. The videos will offer virtual trips to tourism destinations in Malaysia, Philippines, Singapore and Thailand, showcasing local architecture. Two batches of videos will be released via the official AKC channel on YouTube on Wednesday and Dec. 28. Tourism promotion agencies of the four countries will also air the video

Dec. 20, 2022

[Photo News] Honorary Ambassador

Figure skater and Olympics gold medalist Yuna Kim (right) poses with Canadian Embassy Charge d' affaires Tamara Mawhinney after she was named honorary ambassador for the 60th anniversary of Canada-Korea diplomatic relations on Monday at the Canadian Embassy in Seoul. Kim who spent some years in Canada for her training will participate in various activities and events celebrating the 60th year of bilateral ties next year.

Dec. 20, 2022

Indian Embassy promotes investment in Uttar Pradesh

The Indian Embassy in Seoul hosted an event on Tuesday to promote the tourism industry in Uttar Pradesh and encourage investment in the country’s northern state of over 200 million. “Establishing relationship with UP is like establishing relationship with a country such as Brazil,” said the state's Tourism and Culture Minister Jaiveer Singh. Presenting the municipality’s goal of leveling up its economy to $1 trillion by 2027, Singh invited Korean companies to a global inv

Dec. 13, 2022

[Contribution or Viewpoint] The Constitution of the Republic of Uzbekistan is a guarantee of human dignity, a free and prosperous life

These days, the 30th anniversary of the adoption of the Constitution of the Republic of Uzbekistan, which is an important guarantee of our peaceful and prosperous life and a solid legal foundation, is widely celebrated not only in our country, but also among our compatriots living abroad. The Constitution of the Republic of Uzbekistan was adopted on Dec. 8, 1992, at the eleventh session of the Supreme Council of the Republic of Uzbekistan of the 12th convocation. Once in force, it established a

Dec. 13, 2022

Top environment officials of S. Korea, China, Japan discuss fine dust, carbon neutrality

Top environmental officials of South Korea, China and Japan held a virtual trilateral meeting Thursday over joint efforts to reduce fine dust air pollution and work toward carbon neutrality, Seoul officials said. South Korea's Environment Minister Han Wha-jin, China's Ecology and Environment Minister Huang Runqiu and Japan's State Minister of the Environment Miki Yamada attended the 23rd Tripartite Environment Ministers Meeting. Han asked for Beijing and Tokyo to attend the 2nd U.

Dec. 1, 2022

Top diplomats of S. Korea, Bahamas hold talks in Seoul

The top diplomats of South Korea and the Bahamas held talks in Seoul Tuesday on bilateral ties and cooperation on the international stage, Seoul's foreign ministry said. During the meeting with his Bahamian counterpart Frederick Mitchell, Foreign Minister Park Jin expressed hopes to enhance bilateral ties based on their continued cooperation in the economy and humanitarian support among other areas, according to the ministry. Park also requested support from the Bahamas for the enhancemen

Nov. 29, 2022

USFK to host regional US Space Force command amid rising N. Korean ICBM threats

The US Forces Korea (USFK) will host a component command of the US Space Force (USSF), likely the second regional space command to be established by the United States outside of its mainland, amid growing missile threats from North Korea, sources here said Saturday. The US Department of Defense plans to open a component command of the Space Force under the wing of the USFK, and the USSF is scheduled to integrate the body into its organizational structure by the end of this year, according to mul

Nov. 26, 2022

ASEAN Korea Center promotes ASEAN game companies at G-Star

BUSAN — The ASEAN Korea Center (AKC) set up a pavilion for game companies from seven ASEAN countries to connect them with potential investors and customers who participated in G-Star, the largest gaming exhibition in Korea, which returned after a three-year hiatus due to the pandemic. At the pavilion, ASEAN companies presented business models, partnership possibilities, potential technologies and contact points for global operations. The venue also provided an opportunity for them to learn

Nov. 22, 2022