[Diplomatic circuit] Korean content companies eye investment opportunities in the Philippines

A delegation of South Korean content companies visited the Philippine capital last week to research investment opportunities there. The Feb. 4-7 trip to Manila was organized by the ASEAN-Korea Center in Seoul as part of the follow-up to last year’s summit in Busan between Korea and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations. “The Philippines is not only an attractive content market with a high demand for the Korean Wave, but also a promising outsourcing partner with an immense tec

Feb. 10, 2020

[Diplomatic circuit] ‘Push for green energy pays off’

With alarm bells ringing louder than ever, warning the world of the grave impact of climate change, countries are increasingly turning to Denmark to learn from its expertise in renewable energy. In an interview with The Korea Herald, Einar Jensen, the country’s new ambassador to South Korea, discussed how the European country managed to make such remarkable strides in green energy and in overall quality of life. “When I look at Korea today, I think you have done a tremendously

Feb. 10, 2020

[Meet the diplomat] No changes for the time being: UK envoy

The UK has left the EU as of Jan. 31, but its trade with South Korea will see no major changes, the country’s envoy said Thursday. “My message is that nothing changes … for the time being at least, nothing in the arrangements that set out how trade between Korea and Britain will be done will change because there will be continuity,” British Ambassador Simon Smith said in an interview at the embassy in central Seoul. Korea’s free trade agreement with the European

Feb. 6, 2020

[Diplomatic circuit] Australian envoy shares expertise with aspiring diplomats

The 2020 Korea Herald Young Diplomats Academy, a three-day youth camp, has inspired students who wish to become diplomats by providing an opportunity to benefit from the advice of a senior career diplomat. Ian Mcconville, minister and deputy head of mission at the Australian Embassy in Seoul, shared his experience with some 100 young people, the organizer said Tuesday. “Diplomacy is very important. Currently there are conflicts between many countries. Persuading other countries through

Feb. 5, 2020

China envoy urges Seoul to follow WHO advice on virus response

New Chinese Ambassador to South Korea Xing Haiming on Tuesday called on Seoul to follow the World Health Organization’s recommendations on handling the new coronavirus, as Korea began barring entry of noncitizens who have visited China’s virus-hit Hubei province. “I will not assess (Seoul’s measure). … But an international and scientific method would be to follow the WHO’s recommendation,” said Xing in a press conference at the Chinese Embassy in cen

Feb. 4, 2020

[Diplomatic circuit] Awards recognize companies contributing to Korea-Australia trade

The Australian Chamber of Commerce in Korea named Pepper Savings Bank business of the year during the Australia-Korea Business Awards 2020, held Friday in Seoul. PSB, a unit of Australia’s Pepper Group and the only Australian savings bank operating here, was recognized for its efforts to provide loans to small and medium-sized enterprises and create jobs in the North and South Jeolla provinces and Gyeonggi Province, the organizer said. The annual awards presentation also honored other

Feb. 3, 2020

[Diplomatic circuit] German, Israeli embassies remember Holocaust together

For the fifth year in a row, the German and Israeli embassies in South Korea joined hands to commemorate victims of the Holocaust on Jan. 29, the embassies said Monday. A commemorative event was held at the Seoul Museum of History in central Seoul two days after International Holocaust Remembrance Day. It was also opening day for the exhibition “The Auschwitz Album” at the museum. This year marks the 75th anniversary of the liberation of Auschwitz, a Nazi death camp in Poland. Si

Feb. 3, 2020

[Diplomatic circuit] ‘Hydrogen key to Korea-Australia energy partnership’: Australian top diplomat

Global efforts to transition to a green society are creating new opportunities for stronger collaboration between South Korea and Australia in the field of hydrogen energy, according to Australian Ambassador to Korea James Choi. “Australia’s got abundant gas and renewable energy. … I see hydrogen as the next phase of Australia’s very important energy partnership with the Republic of Korea,” the envoy said in an interview with The Korea Herald last month at the Aus

Feb. 3, 2020

[Photo news] Herald CEO meets Indian envoy

[Diplomatic circuit] Herald Corp. CEO and Publisher Kwon Chung-won shakes hands with Indian Ambassador to South Korea Sripriya Ranganathan (right) during a meeting in central Seoul on Wednesday. (Indian Embassy in Korea)

Jan. 22, 2020

[Diplomatic circuit] K-pop, soft power experts pin innovation as key to sustain momentum

Seven-member Korean boy band BTS rang in the new year with a live performance at New York City’s Times Square. Film director Bong Joon-ho rewrote the history of Korean film with his black comedy “Parasite,” which has been nominated for best picture at the Oscars. Korean culture as a whole is reaching new highs on the international stage.To keep the momentum going, Korean creators should continue to pursue innovation, said Lee Soo-man, one of the most important figures in the K-

Jan. 20, 2020

[Diplomatic circuit] Hong Kong Tourism Board seeks to appease travelers’ concerns

As pro-democracy protests continue for over 8 months with no sign of abating, Hong Kong Tourism Board in Korea has introduced various tips for tourists hesitant to travel to Hong Kong. Hong Kong Tourism Board said Monday that it has carved out a section of its official blog dedicated to offering real time information on Hong Kong starting Jan. 14. Local Hong Kongers will share their daily lives through the blog and the blog is also expected to launch a system to answer tourists’ questions

Jan. 20, 2020

[Diplomatic circuit] IVI, Sweden renew partnership for global public health

The International Vaccine Institute, a Seoul-based international organization, has renewed its cooperation with the Swedish International Cooperation Agency for continued efforts to accelerate vaccine research and development for global health, the organization said Monday.As part of a longstanding partnership between the Swedish government and the IVI, the Swedish International Cooperation Agency has pledged to fund the IVI some $5.24 million over the next five years.“We’re proud to

Jan. 20, 2020

[Diplomatic circuit] [Photo news] Guatemalan ambassador’s visit

Guatemalan Ambassador to South Korea Marco Tulio Chicas Sosa (right) shakes hands with Herald Corp. CEO and Publisher Kwon Chung-won during a courtesy call at the Herald Corp. headquarters in central Seoul on Jan. 15. Chicas Sosa presented his credentials to Korean President Moon Jae-in in November last year. (Park Hyun-koo/The Korea Herald)

Jan. 20, 2020

S.M. Entertainment head blames online ‘hate speech’ for K-pop suicides

Lee Soo-man, founder and chief producer of S.M. Entertainment, one of the big three agencies in the K-pop world, said Tuesday that he sees no fault in artist management and that online hate speech is to blame for suicides and increasing cases of K-pop stars suffering from anxiety disorders.  “There is no fault in the system. I take pride in (our artist management) system … we are possibly No. 1 worldwide. We think a lot about the education and character (of artists),” Lee

Jan. 14, 2020

[Diplomatic circuit] Winners of ASEAN-Korea essay contest take part in Vietnam, Busan workshop

The 2019 ASEAN-Korea Youth Academic Workshop involving 14 winners of an essay contest has entered its final phase, the intergovernmental organization said Monday.The 14 youths were selected for their top performance in the 2019 ASEAN-Korea Academic Essay Contest co-organized by the ASEAN-Korea Centre and ASEAN University Network between June and October last year.“Following the success of the 2019 ASEAN-ROK Commemorative Summit and the first Mekong-ROK Summit, ASEAN and Korea are now advan

Jan. 13, 2020

[Diplomatic circuit] British Embassy highlights climate change at annual youth camp

The British Embassy in Seoul took part in the 2020 Youth Ambassador Camp for middle and high school students in Korea on Friday to raise awareness about the upcoming UN Climate Change Conference in England. The event, organized by the Korean Culture Association, was held at the Olympic Parktel in southeastern Seoul with the aim of improving intercultural and global awareness. It was attended by some 100 students aspiring to pursue a career in diplomacy and international affairs.  Representi

Jan. 13, 2020

[Diplomatic circuit] ICCK names Sachin Satpute as new chairman

The Indian Chamber of Commerce in Korea has elected Sachin Satpute, president of Novelis Asia, to lead the business lobby as of Jan. 1 on the back of his near 30 years of experience, the ICCK said Monday.“While the Indian economy is also navigating through rough times, the government’s push for infrastructure development and the thrust for structural reform … will enable India to achieve sustained economic growth in the future,” Satpute said in a statement.“And I c

Jan. 13, 2020

[Herald Interview] Bangladesh’s top envoy expresses hope for Moon’s visit

Bangladesh’s Ambassador to South Korea Abida Islam, who is more than halfway into her term in Seoul, expressed hopes for President Moon Jae-in to visit the South Asian country in the near future.Prior to her 2017 appointment as the top diplomat to Seoul, Islam served multiple key posts at Bangladesh’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs in charge of international organizations, the Far East, Southeast Asia, Americas and the Pacific, counterterrorism and administration, alongside missions in

Jan. 13, 2020

[Herald Interview] Canadian envoy on Korea in the ’90s, the maturing of bilateral ties and future partnerships in AI

Canadian Ambassador Michael Danagher first came to South Korea in 1992 and began nearly three decades, on and off, of interaction with “fun and loving” South Koreans. After two stints here in the 1990s and 2000s, he came back as ambassador in September 2018. “For me it (the ambassadorial appointment) meant coming back to a place I was familiar with. I hoped I would have the best insight and the best ability to impact on our bilateral relationship,” Danagher, who is fluent

Jan. 6, 2020

[Diplomatic circuit] Omani envoy awarded honorary Seoul citizenship

Omani Ambassador Mohamed Al Harthy received an honorary Seoul citizenship in recognition of his efforts to foster relations between the two countries, the Oman Embassy said Monday.Al Harthy started his term here in 2010 and currently serves key roles as the dean of the diplomatic corps and the president of the Korea-Arab Society. “Ambassador Al Harthy is known to have strong interest in Korean culture. He has made efforts in public diplomacy through a series of cultural, artistic events an

Dec. 23, 2019