[Diplomatic Circuit] France celebrates national day in Seoul

The French Embassy in Seoul and French Korean Chamber of Commerce and Industry celebrated France’s national day here on July 14. In a YouTube video released on the day, also known as Bastille Day, French Ambassador Philippe Lefort stressed on the important role youths play in boosting bilateral relations. Lefort said the young people of France are ambitious, enterprising, generous and curious, and have expressed an increasing interest in exploring the opportunities Korea has to offer.

July 20, 2021

[Diplomatic Circuit] Kenya is gateway to African market: cabinet secretary

Korean companies will archive market access through regional integration in Africa and East African region if Kenya is made base, according to Betty Maina, Kenya’s cabinet secretary for industrialization, trade and enterprise development. “Setting up Kenya as base will access 50 million Kenyan people, 500 million people in the Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa (COMESA) and a billion people in the whole of Africa,” Maina said. “Kenya has a market-based econo

July 20, 2021

S. Korea takes down banners at athletes' village on IOC's request

South Korea on Saturday took down banners at its Olympic athletes' village with a nod to history, following a request from the International Olympic Committee (IOC). The Korean Sport & Olympic Committee (KSOC) said the IOC had raised issues with the message written across a few banners, initially hung on balconies at South Korean athletes' rooms at the village in Tokyo. The letters translated as, "I still have support from 50 million Korean people." This was in reference to the

July 17, 2021

S. Korean, Czech foreign ministers discuss cooperation in nuclear

Foreign Minister Chung Eui-yong spoke by phone with his Czech counterpart on Friday and discussed bilateral issues, including ways to boost cooperation in the nuclear power plant business, his office said.  In the phone talks with Jakub Kulhanek, Chung stressed that South Korea is the best partner for the Czech Republic's new nuclear power plant project under way in the southern region of Dukovany, citing the technologies and price competitiveness proven through various projects Korean com

July 9, 2021

Korean autobiography of Bangladesh’s ‘father of the nation’ unveiled

The Bangladesh Embassy in Seoul on Thursday unveiled the Korean translation of “The Unfinished Memoirs” -- an autobiography of Bangladesh’s first President Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman in an event at Lotte hotel in central Seoul. The event was hosted to celebrate the birth centenary of Bangabandhu, also known as “the father of the nation” in Bangladesh. Bangabandhu’s autobiography reflects his political vision and unremitting support for humanism and

July 2, 2021

Denmark PM to attend 2021 P4G Seoul Summit

Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen will participate in the 2021 P4G Seoul Summit’s live session Monday, the Embassy of Denmark in Seoul said Wednesday. The P4G summit is set to start Sunday. In addition to the prime minister, high level representatives of Denmark’s private and public sectors, central and regional governments as well as the royal family will participate in the summit and the Green Future Week leading up to the summit. The all-virtual summit is focused on ac

May 27, 2021

Blinken says US is looking at pressure measures, diplomatic paths, in NK policy review

US Secretary of State Antony Blinken said Tuesday that Washington is looking at various ways to address the North Korean nuclear issue, including "pressure measures" and "diplomatic paths," during its ongoing policy review. During a press conference with Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin and their Japanese counterparts, Toshimitsu Motegi and Nobuo Kishi, in Tokyo, Blinken also pointed out the US' commitment to dealing with human rights abuses in the North. His remarks came h

March 16, 2021

[#WeFACE] S. Korea’s ambitious climate goals need ‘road map’: EU ambassador to Korea

Last year South Korea pledged to invest more in clean energy and green infrastructure, and to achieve carbon neutrality by 2050 -- ambitious climate goals for one of the world’s key emitters. It is time for Korea to turn its words into action by devising a concrete road map and bringing an end to financing for overseas coal plants, according to the top representative of the European Union here. “In less than a year, Korea politically committed to doing a lot of things for climate,

March 8, 2021

Nordic Talks to look at public-private partnerships, innovation for greener economy

The embassies of Denmark, Finland, Norway and Sweden in South Korea will co-host a webinar on Thursday to share their experiences of long-term public-private partnerships that can accelerate the decarbonization of industries for a more sustainable economy. Titled “Nordic Talks Korea: Innovation for a Green Transition,” the event will bring together experts from Korea and the Nordic region to discuss how the public sector, the private sector and the rest of society can collaborate t

Feb. 22, 2021

S. Korea's top nuke envoy asks for Russia to play role in advancing peninsula peace efforts

South Korea's chief nuclear envoy, Noh Kyu-duk, asked Tuesday for Russia to play a role in advancing Seoul's renewed drive to lay the groundwork for a lasting peace on the Korean Peninsula, the Foreign Ministry said. Noh made the call during his meeting with Russian Ambassador to South Korea Andrey Kulik, as Seoul seeks to enlist international cooperation in resuming dialogue with North Korea and restart nuclear diplomacy with it. "Noh assessed Russia's will to play a constructive role on

Feb. 9, 2021

S. Korean, US security chiefs discuss Korea peace, global issues: Cheong Wa Dae

The top national security officials of South Korea and the United States agreed on the need for close bilateral cooperation in advancing the Korea peace process and the handling of global issues during their phone call Saturday, Cheong Wa Dae said. It was the first formal conversation between Suh Hoon, director of national security at Cheong Wa Dae, and his new American counterpart, Jake Sullivan, since the launch of the Joe Biden administration this week. Suh congratulated Sullivan on his ina

Jan. 23, 2021

FM Kang calls for early high-level exchanges with incoming Biden govt. to cement alliance

Foreign Minister Kang Kyung-wha called Monday for early high-level exchanges with the incoming US administration of Joe Biden to cement the bilateral alliance, and for continued global cooperation in fostering lasting peace on the Korean Peninsula. Kang made the remarks in a New Year's address, as Seoul seeks to revive stalled nuclear diplomacy with North Korea through closer cooperation with the Biden administration, set to be launched later this month, and other regional partners. "On t

Jan. 4, 2021

Symposiums to be held to celebrate 2020 Nobel Prizes

A series of symposiums to celebrate the winners of this year’s Nobel Prizes and their accomplishments will be held online Tuesday, according to the Swedish Embassy in South Korea. Organized by the embassy, the Sweden-Korea Nobel Memorial Program 2020 will consist of three symposiums, where Korean and Swedish experts from partner universities and institutions will discuss this year’s Nobel awards in literature, economics and the sciences. The event opens with a science session, wh

Nov. 25, 2020

Study in Europe Fair to be held on Nov. 23-24

An online education fair for South Koreans interested in pursuing higher education in Europe will be held on Nov. 23-24, the Delegation of the European Union to Korea said Friday. The EU Delegation to Korea, together with embassies of the European nations in Seoul, will host “Study in Europe Fair 2020” in a fully virtual format, to be attended by 53 European universities and institutions from 17 countries, according to the EU Delegation to Korea. At the fair, which will be held e

Nov. 20, 2020

Webinar to look into the Korean conflict and Nordic peace mediation

A webinar to analyze the situation on the Korean Peninsula and share Nordic experiences of peace mediation will be held on Tuesday, marking the 70th anniversary of the outbreak of the Korean War. Hosted by embassies of Denmark, Sweden, Finland and Norway in Seoul and Yonsei University's GSIS Program in International Cooperation on peace and security, experts and scholars will discuss how Nordic experiences can help solve the decades-long nuclear problem on the Korean Peninsula. The event open

Nov. 18, 2020

Workshops on e-learning to be held for ASEAN professors in Korea

A series of workshops for Southeast Asian educators and scholars based in Korea will be held as part of efforts to increase their distance teaching capacity amid the COVID-19 pandemic and boost ASEAN-Korea cooperation in the education sector.  Co-organized by the ASEAN-Korea Center and the Korea Education Research Information Service, workshops on online learning content and services will be offered for the Council of ASEAN Professors in Korea on Nov. 14 and Dec. 4, respectively. Under th

Nov. 12, 2020

S. Korea, China agree to seek joint measures in reducing fine dust

The environment ministers of South Korea and China held online talks Wednesday to discuss measures to reduce fine dust air pollution and help achieve the two nations' goals in achieving carbon neutrality, Seoul's environment ministry said. During the virtual meeting, South Korean Environment Minister Cho Myung-rae and his Chinese counterpart, Huang Runqiu, agreed to enhance cooperation on their respective anti-fine dust projects in the coming winter season when concentration levels are expecte

Nov. 11, 2020

ASEAN-Korea Center to hold culture, tourism showcase

The ASEAN-Korea Center in Seoul will hold a showcase presenting some of the tourist attractions, cultures and authentic delicacies of all 10 ASEAN countries, starting Thursday, the organization said Tuesday. As international tourism is put on hold due to the global spread of COVID-19, the showcase intends to provide South Koreans with a chance to experience nostalgia and the simulation of travel, while deepening their understanding of the culture, tourism and food of Southeast Asia, the center

Nov. 3, 2020

Book launched to celebrate 70 years of Korea-Spain diplomatic ties

A book has been launched to celebrate 70 years of diplomatic ties between South Korea and Spain this year. It covers the past, present and future of bilateral relations, economic cooperation and cultural exchanges. “Our relationship has matured and has been growing, but we cannot be satisfied. We need to be much more ambitious for the future,” Spanish Ambassador to Korea Juan Ignacio Morro said at an event to publicize the book “Spain and Korea: Towards a New Strategic Asso

Oct. 29, 2020

Swiss Embassy in Seoul to host retrospective of Bruno Ganz

The Embassy of Switzerland in Korea will hold a retrospective in Seoul and Gwangju of Bruno Ganz, a renowned Swiss actor who has starred in many international award-winning films, starting Thursday. To commemorate the artist, who died at the age of 77 last year, the embassy said it would screen 14 films featuring the artist from Oct. 15 to Nov. 1 at Seoul Art Cinema in central Seoul, and from Nov. 1 to 9 at Gwangju Cinema in Gwangju. The event is hosted in cooperation with the Korean Associat

Oct. 13, 2020