[Herald Interview] Poland shares lessons in transition from communism to capitalism

As North Korea strives to reform its economy and lure foreign investments, Poland -- a former communist nation that has successfully transformed into a democracy and market economy -- can share its experience of transition into a rising economic heavyweight in Europe, said the country’s top envoy to Korea in an interview.“Everything that helped us leave communism was worthwhile,” Polish Ambassador Piotr Ostaszewski told The Korea Herald. “On the other hand, in 1989 there was no alternative. The

Aug. 27, 2018

S. Korean, US vow efforts for engagement with N. Korea

The top diplomats of South Korea and the United States vowed Saturday to make joint efforts to maintain the momentum for dialogue with North Korea after the cancellation of the US envoy's visit to Pyongyang, the foreign ministry here said.On Friday (Washington time), US President Donald Trump said in a Twitter message that he had canceled Secretary of State Mike Pompeo's trip to North Korea slated for next week, citing a lack of progress toward resolving the North's nuclear issues. South Korean

Aug. 25, 2018

UAE, S. Korea thrive under special strategic partnership: ambassador

The United Arab Emirates and Republic of Korea established diplomatic ties in 1980. This was followed by the opening of embassies in each other’s countries. Since then, the two nations have maintained vibrant cooperation in various fields. This was enhanced by exchanges of visits involving high-ranking government officials and trade delegations, who signed bilateral agreements to strengthen the ties. In 2009, the two countries took a step forward by elevating their relationship to a “strategic p

Aug. 20, 2018

What East Asia can learn from Europe’s economic community

Speaking at a public event on National Liberation Day in Seoul, South Korean President Moon Jae-in surprised many by making a reference to the European Coal and Steel Community, which was created by six European countries in 1951. It is not often that a Korean president publicly mentions the European institution as a model for inter-Korean reconciliation and cooperation. Moon, however, was spot on. Europe’s Coal and Steel Community, indeed, can be an ideal template for bringing about reconciliat

Aug. 20, 2018

Comment on 10th anniversary of August 2008 events in the Caucasus

Ten years ago, on the night of Aug. 7-8, 2008, the government of Georgia under former President Mikheil Saakashvili breached the agreement on a peaceful settlement of the Georgian-Ossetian conflict by launching a full-scale military operation against South Ossetia.Georgia’s aggression against Tskhinval, which has been universally recognized as a party to the conflict, had not been provoked in any way. Under the 1992 agreement signed between Russia and Georgia in Sochi, security in South Ossetia

Aug. 20, 2018

ASEAN-Korea Center makes donation to Laos flood relief

The ASEAN-Korea Center donated 3 million won ($2,650) to the Embassy of Lao People’s Democratic Republic on Aug. 6 to aid flood recovery efforts from a dam collapse on July 23.　The center’s Secretary-General Lee Hyuk delivered the donation to Laos Ambassador to Korea Khamsouay Keodalavong, and expressed his sympathy and wish for a speedy rehabilitation of the disaster-stricken areas in the Southeast Asian country. “The Korean government and people are all united in helping Lao people in their st

Aug. 13, 2018

Indian Embassy brings ‘Sarang’ cultural festival to Korea

The Indian Embassy in Seoul will organize the fourth annual installment of Sarang, a cultural festival introducing India’s colorful and varied heritage, at venues across Korea in September. Sarang started as a small event in 2015, and has since grown in size and popularity, according to the embassy. It has brought art forms from throughout India to the Korean public. Last year, which marked the 70th anniversary of India’s independence, saw sold-out performances of Indian classical music for the

Aug. 13, 2018

‘Ecuador seeks SME cooperation with Korea’

Ecuadorian Minister of Industries and Productivity Eva Garcia Fabre visited Korea last week to strengthen bilateral commercial ties and introduce investment opportunities in Ecuador. She came at the invitation of the Korea Foundation -- a public diplomacy institution under the Ministry of Foreign Affairs -- as part of its cooperation program with Central and South American countries.The bureaucrat had meetings with her Korean counterparts in government and the private sector, including the Korea

Aug. 13, 2018

New Zealand envoy enjoys luge ride in Tongyeong

New Zealand Ambassador to Korea Philip Turner on Friday visited Skyline Luge Tongyeong, an entertainment facility in South Gyeongsang Province owned by a New Zealand company, on his first official tour to the region.The Skyline Luge Tongyeong development is the biggest investment in Korea to date by Skyline Enterprises, a Kiwi company with a diversified portfolio and operating predominantly in leisure and entertainment fields in New Zealand and overseas. The firm plans to invest a further 10 bil

Aug. 6, 2018

[Herald Interview] ‘Reformed Georgia: pearl of South Caucasus after 2008 war’: Georgian Foreign Minister

Georgia urges Russia to respect its territorial integrity and sovereignty from violations in the occupied regions of Abkhazia and South Ossetia, stressed the country’s top diplomat on the 10th anniversary of the 2008 Russo-Georgian War. In an exclusive interview with The Korea Herald, Georgian Foreign Minister Davit Zalkaliani said that the issues were of international significance, and deserve the attention of the international community, including South Korea.Highlighting Tbilisi’s notable ach

Aug. 6, 2018

‘BRICS offers innovations for global sustainable development’: South African envoy

Against an onslaught of protectionism, the five major world emerging economies that comprise BRICS are strengthening cooperation in defense of multilateralism and free trade, and further preparing for the “fourth industrial revolution,” according to South Africa’s top envoy to Korea.South Africa assumed the rotating annual presidency of BRICS -- Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa -- on Jan. 1 this year, which lasts through Dec. 31. It hosted the 10th BRICS Summit in Johannesburg from

Aug. 6, 2018

U.S. ambassador calls for N. Korea to make ‘demonstrable’ moves toward denuclearization

New U.S. Ambassador to Seoul Harry Harris on Thursday called on North Korea to make “demonstrable moves” toward denuclearization before the declaration of a formal end to the 1950-53 Korean War.The retired admiral made the call amid reports that the communist state has been demanding the political declaration as part of efforts to ensure the security of its regime, with the U.S. pressuring it to first take tangible steps toward nuclear disarmament.“One of the things that hasn’t happened is the d

Aug. 2, 2018

Egypt welcomes investments in energy, construction, tourism

Egypt has undertaken reforms to become an advanced economy interwoven with the global economy, the country’s top envoy to Korea said last week.“Egyptians under the leadership of President Abdel-Fattah el Sissi have been embarking on an ambitious economic program to transform the country into a fully-fledged, dynamic economy,” said Egyptian Ambassador to Korea Hazem Fahmy at the embassy on Wednesday on the occasion of the 66th anniversary of the Egyptian Revolution. “We have managed in a very sho

July 31, 2018

Colombia-Korea commerce shows steady growth with free trade agreement

After Colombia and Korea entered a free trade agreement in 2016, bilateral commercial volume topped $1.25 billion last year, according to Colombia’s top envoy to Korea, who added that his country hoped to export some $570 million of goods to Korea this year. With a population of 50 million -- the third-largest in Latin America after Brazil and Mexico -- Colombia is a growing economy with a young, well-educated and rising middle class.Colombia is part of a regional economic bloc, the Pacific Alli

July 31, 2018

[Herald Interview] Indian envoy leaves Korea with substantive legacy

In Korea, where things tend to get done rather quickly, the three-year tenure of former Indian Ambassador to Korea Vikram Doraiswami went like lightning. Soon after starting his ambassadorship here in April 2015, Doraiswami helped prepare the visit of Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi to Korea in May of that year, laying the groundwork for the success of New Delhi’s “Act East” policy -- a core foreign policy initiative to deepen India’s engagement with East Asia.His tenure ended with the equal

July 31, 2018

Korean SMEs eye booming Ethiopian market

Caption: Members of the Social Cooperative of Korean Small and Medium Business Federation pose with Ethiopian Ambassador Shiferaw Jarso (center) after a meeting at the Ethiopian Embassy in Seoul. (Social Cooperative of Korean Small and Medium Business Federation)The Social Cooperative of Korean Small and Medium Business Federation visited the Ethiopian Embassy on Monday to discuss ways to promote and vitalize commercial exchanges between Ethiopia and Korea.The organization is the first cooperati

July 25, 2018

Oman proposes deal with S. Korea to build smart city in special economic zone

MUSCAT -- A senior Omani official on Tuesday proposed a preliminary deal with South Korea to create a smart city in a special economic zone in his country, the South's prime minister said.Prime Minister Lee Nak-yon said that Asa'ad bin Tariq Al Said, the Omani deputy prime minister for international relations and cooperation affairs, made the proposal for the development in Duqm, a port town in the country's central-eastern area.(Yonhap)Oman is the third and final leg of Lee's weeklong trip to A

July 25, 2018

CICI awards individuals for promoting Korea in photography, videography

Grand prize-winning entry “View Over Seoul,” by Romanian Embassy Executive Director Daniel Iordan Teodorescu (Daniel Iordan Teodorescu)The Corea Image Communication Institute winnowed a list of winners for the second “Korea Through the Lens, Video and Photography” contest last week. The grand prize went to Executive Director Daniel Iordan Teodorescu at the Romanian Embassy, for his shot of Seoul’s panoramic nightscape titled “View Over Seoul.” He will be awarded Incheon-Paris round-trip business

July 23, 2018