Pacific Alliance unveils vibrant colors at festival

The Korea Foundation, in collaboration with Colombian, Peruvian, Mexican and Chilean embassies, has organized a plethora of public events through Aug. 17. “The Pacific Alliance Festival Hola” showcases in Seoul photographs, musical and dance performances and films of the four countries that make up the Pacific Alliance. As part of the festival, the exhibition “Land of the Pacific Embrace” features works of Colombian photographer Fernando Cano, Chilean photographer Christian Jamet, 13 Peruvian ph

June 25, 2018

Ecuadorian Embassy brings slice of Incan riches back to future

People formed a ring encircling a “chacana” -- a space lavished with artfully juxtaposed fruits, grains and flower petals -- genuflecting, reaching out to the sky and expressing through mystical body language in a mimicry of a ritual leader donning a colorful mask. The theatricals replicated the ceremony of “Inty Raymi,” or festival of the sun, the ancient Incan Empire’s essential rite of passage every year centered on the agricultural cycle and harvest. The Ecuadorian Embassy, in collaboration

June 25, 2018

UNESCO panel to note Koreans' forced labor under Japan's

A UNESCO committee is expected to cite Japan's wartime brutality of forcing Koreans into harsh labor at some of its newly designated World Heritage sites, a government official here said Monday.UNESCO plans to hold the 42nd session of the World Heritage Committee in Bahrain through next Wednesday.The panel is reviewing Japan's implementation of its 2015 commitment related to winning the much-coveted heritage status for23 industrial facilities, including those on Hashima Island. Many Koreans were

June 25, 2018

[Herald Interview] Grasping Chinese market with educator’s insight

For comprehensive educational firm Due West’s co-founders, Andrew Sohn and Michael J. Novielli, China has been a thrilling place to do business. The Columbia University graduates founded the company in 2009, and have made inroads into the Chinese market offering consulting and guidance for students wanting to study in the United States. In an interview at The Korea Herald headquarters in Seoul on Friday, the duo said there was a “real hunger” and drive for learning and entrepreneurship in China,

June 18, 2018

Philippine economy on bullish growth trajectory

Backed by an ambitious infrastructure program and comprehensive reforms, the Philippine economy is expected to grow by 7 percent next year, forecast the country’s top envoy to Korea last week, citing the International Monetary Fund. “The Philippines is enjoying not only freedom but also prosperity,” Ambassador Raul Hernandez said at a reception in Seoul on Thursday marking the 120th anniversary of the Philippines’ declaration of independence from colonial Spain. “Last year, amid global uncertain

June 18, 2018

‘Public diplomacy key to refining soft power’

American political scientist Joseph S. Nye Jr. once said, “What is soft power? It is the ability to get what you want through attraction rather than coercion or payments. It arises from the attractiveness of a country’s culture, political ideals and policies.”If there were verity in Nye’s assumption, the Korean government has wisely followed through on the celebrity scholar’s insight to magnify its soft power, drawing on a whole set of public diplomacy tools such as K-pop, Korean drama series, t

June 18, 2018

[Herald Interview] International Red Cross ready to aid inter-Korean humanitarian projects

The International Committee for the Red Cross is committed to assisting humanitarian projects between the two Koreas amid their conciliatory efforts, even as it copes with the consequences of some of the world’s most calamitous man-made crises, said the chief of the Switzerland-based organization in Seoul last week. Peter Maurer, the president of the ICRC, came to Korea from June 4-5 to strengthen cooperation with Seoul by drawing the country’s continuing contributions and raising its public awa

June 11, 2018

[US-NK Summit] ‘North Korea reform on human rights essential at Singapore summit’

Ahead of the historic summit between United States President Donald Trump and North Korean leader Kim Jong-un on Tuesday, a coalition of human rights organizations from around the world sent a letter to the communist leader, urging him to undertake “meaningful reforms” to reverse the grave human rights situation in the country. Trump and Kim are due to hold talks -- the first-ever between a sitting US president and a North Korean leader -- in Singapore, with Trump describing the summit as a “one

June 11, 2018

[Contribution] EU protects data for strengthened privacy, business opportunities

The recent Facebook-Cambridge Analytica scandal made us realize how important strong data protection rules are for the society as a whole, including for the very functioning of the democratic process. These and other developments have shown that the protection of privacy is crucial, both as an individual right and democratic imperative as well as economic necessity.Without consumers’ trust in the way their data is handled, our data-driven economies will not thrive.The General Data Protection Reg

June 11, 2018

UK elicits global cooperation on clean growth

The United Kingdom is committed to simultaneously spurring national economic development and cutting greenhouse gas emissions, ensuring clean growth and the supply of affordable energy for businesses and consumers, according to the UK Embassy in Seoul. At the same time, it added that it was seeking to elicit international collaboration.“Achieving clean growth, while ensuring an affordable energy supply for businesses and consumers, is at the heart of the UK’s Industrial Strategy,” the embassy re

June 11, 2018

Seoul Square illuminations to mark 55th anniversary of EU-Korea relations

The facade of the Seoul Square building is illuminated with images celebrating 55 years of diplomatic relations between the European Union and Korea from Friday to Tuesday, after 8 p.m. (European Union External Action)Until Tuesday, the facade of the Seoul Square building is being illuminated in the evening with images celebrating 55 years of diplomatic relations between the European Union and Korea. The anniversary is being celebrated under the theme of “connectivity” between European and Asian

June 4, 2018

Latvia, Korea sign MOU on seafarers’ certificates

Latvian Ambassador to Korea Peteris Vaivars (left) poses with participants at an event to sign a memorandum of understanding at the embassy in Seoul on Wednesday. (Latvian Embassy)The Latvian Embassy in Seoul held a ceremony Wednesday to sign a memorandum of understanding between Latvia and Korea on the mutual recognition of seafarers’ certificates.Latvia’s chairman of the board of the Maritime Administration, Janis Krastins, signed the document, alongside Korea’s director general of the Shippin

June 4, 2018

Security experts discuss how EU can facilitate NK denuclearization

The European Union Delegation to Korea hosted a panel seminar on the security dynamics on the Korean Peninsula and EU-Korea partnership on May 28, joined by high-profile experts, scholars and former and current diplomats. The event, “Towards Peace on the Korean Peninsula and the EU-ROK Partnership,” at Seoul Square Building, also marked the launch of the Korea Foundation-Vrije Universiteit Brussel Korea Chair. Participating discussants included EU Ambassador to Korea Michael Reiterer; Director G

June 4, 2018

[Herald Interview] ‘Mexico, Korea can blaze trail in global free trade regime’

Mexico offers attractive options for foreign investors backed by ambitious reforms undertaken over the last five years, and looks to further harness synergies with Korean enterprises with a free trade agreement on the horizon, according to the chief of a Mexican state agency for internationalization, trade and investment. “Mexico is open for business. We are a country that for the last 30 years has chosen a path of trade and investment, internationalization, opening and liberalizing our market,”

June 4, 2018

[Herald Interview] ‘South African tourism fosters inclusive economy, society’

South African Tourism Minister Derek Hanekom (right) and Deputy Minister Elizabeth Thabethe ring the bell signaling the start of the 2018 African Travel Indaba on May 8 at the Durban International Convention Center. (Joel Lee/The Korea Herald)DURBAN, South Africa -- Holding his deputy minister’s hands, South African Tourism Minister Derek Hanekom boisterously rang the bell that signaled the launch of the 2018 African Travel Indaba in Durban in early May. The continent’s largest tourism trade sho

May 28, 2018

UK Embassy celebrates Queen’s birthday, royal wedding

British Ambassador to Korea Simon Smith (left) raises a glass with Democratic Party Rep. Park Young-sun, who heads the Korea-UK parliamentary friendship group; Rep. Kim Seang-tae of the Liberal Korea Party (second from right); and Interior and Safety Minister Kim Boo-kyum, at the Queen Elizabeth’s 92nd birthday party reception at the envoy’s residence in Seoul on Thursday. (Joel Lee/The Korea Herald)The British Embassy in Korea marked the 92nd birthday of Queen Elizabeth at the ambassador’s resi

May 28, 2018

Azerbaijan diversifies economy, ups cooperation with Korea

Azerbaijan is rapidly modernizing and diversifying its economy, increasing its potential in transport, logistics, tourism and agricultural developments across the South Caucasus and Eurasia, and enhancing cooperation with Korea on all fronts, according to the country’s top envoy here.The Azerbaijani Embassy in Korea marked the centenary anniversary of the Azerbaijan Democratic Republic (1918-20), a short-lived nation-state precursor to the modern-day Republic of Azerbaijan, at a National Day rec

May 28, 2018

Canadian tapped as new UNC deputy commander

For the first time in history, a senior Canadian military officer will help steer the United Nations force in Korea as deputy commander, announced Canada’s Department of National Defense.Lt. Gen. Wayne Eyre will become the first non-American general to hold the post at the United Nations Command since the multinational force was established 68 years ago to thwart communist aggression during the 1950-53 Korean War. Eyre’s new assignment comes as United States President Donald Trump and North Kore

May 21, 2018

Bangladesh lures investments across lucrative sectors

The Bangladesh Investment Development Authority, Embassy of Bangladesh and Korean public institutions jointly held the first Bangladesh Investment Seminar in Seoul on Friday, with the aim of attracting global capital to the booming, lucrative South Asian market.The three-hour event was attended by BIDA executive chairman, Kazi M. Aminul Islam, Bangladeshi Ambassador to Korea Abida Islam, and senior officials from Bangladesh’s Ministry of Power, Energy and Mineral Resources as well as the Banglad

May 21, 2018