[Diplomatic circuit] IVI urges international cooperation on R&D, distribution of vaccines

The International Vaccine Institute, an international organization based in Seoul, held a forum on its 22nd anniversary where the participants exchanged ideas on ways to boost global collaboration on research and development on vaccines and their delivery.“I hope for greater cooperation among IVI members and non-IVI members to expedite research and development, and distribution of vaccines,” International Vaccine Institute Director General Jerome Kim said in his welcoming speech.Abou

Oct. 14, 2019

[Diplomatic circuit] ASEAN-Korea train to traverse S. Korea

Top officials from ASEAN countries and South Korea will hop on a train to travel across the country alongside citizens of the participating countries. The event, marking the 30th anniversary of ASEAN-Korea dialogue, also aims to promote next month’s ASEAN-Korea summit in Busan, the organizers said Monday.“The program aims to promote people-centered connectivity between ASEAN and Korea under the overarching theme of People, Prosperity, and Peace. … The journey will be featuring

Oct. 14, 2019

[Herald Interview] S. Korea, Poland to work closely for nuclear energy, defense, cybersecurity: Polish FM

Amid South Korea’s strengthened economic relations with Poland, the European country is seeking to bolster cooperation in nuclear energy, defense and cybersecurity, Polish top envoy said.“South Korea is now our main economic partner in Asia. We are talking of increasing cooperation with Korean companies,” Polish Foreign Minister Jacek Czaputowicz told The Korea Herald in an exclusive interview in Seoul.“There is also potential (to cooperate in) in nuclear energy. Of cours

Oct. 8, 2019

[Contribution] Chilean Navy’s training ship Esmeralda visits Busan

The Chilean Navy’s training ship Esmeralda visited the Republic of Korea from Friday to Tuesday. This occasion constituted a source of personal satisfaction for me, because it brought back memories that stretch back in time along with my diplomatic career. I had received the vessel and its crew in different capacities in New York (1986), Wellington (1993), Singapore (1995), Bali (2002), Singapore again in 2012 and Busan in 2016. I often say that this magnificent ship has been present in so

Oct. 7, 2019

[Diplomatic circuit] Saudi Arabia opens doors to tourists from South Korea

Saudi Arabia will issue travel visas for South Koreans and citizens of 48 other countries as part of its Vision 2030, the Saudi Embassy in Seoul said.The visa issuance starting Sept. 27 comes amid a series of decisions to ease strict laws and regulations in one of the most conservative countries in the Middle East.“Saudi Arabia is now opening its doors to international tourists. We are expecting that the tourists from all around the world can enjoy the UNESCO World Heritage Sites, the Red

Oct. 7, 2019

[Diplomatic circuit] French ambassador, chamber of commerce highlight upcoming tech summit

The French Korean Chamber of Commerce and Industry and newly appointed French Ambassador to South Korea Philippe Lefort held a networking event for members of the FKCCI, highlighting the upcoming French-Korean tech summit, the FKCCI said. The event, the “FKCCI Networking Evening With the New French Ambassador to Korea,” took place Oct. 2 in central Seoul with roughly 80 FKCCI members and related officials in attendance.Its purpose was to give the French business community here a

Oct. 7, 2019

[Diplomatic circuit] Indian Embassy launches fifth ‘Sarang Festival’ to spread Indian culture

The Embassy of India in Seoul has launched an annual festival showcasing India’s diverse culture. The fifth edition of “Sarang: The Festival of India in the Republic of Korea” kicked off Oct. 2 and will run until Nov. 22, introducing different aspects of Indian culture including classical bharata natya dance and traditional carnatic instrumental music, as well as Indian film, art and food.“We begin tomorrow, Oct. 2, which is the 150th birth anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi,

Oct. 7, 2019

[Diplomatic circuit] Korea Foundation launches Indonesia office

The Korea Foundation, a nonprofit organization under the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, has opened an office in Jakarta, marking its eighth overseas office aimed at promoting public diplomacy.The office in Indonesia will function as a hub for public diplomacy targeting Southeast Asian countries as part of the Moon Jae-in administration’s New Southern Policy. “Indonesia has a population of 260 million people, standing as the world’s fourth most populous country. It is the lar

Oct. 7, 2019

[Diplomatic circuit] British Council in Korea holds dance workshop for seniors

British community-dance professional Diane Amans led a dance workshop for seniors in Yecheon, North Gyeongsang Province, at the invitation of the British Council in Korea. The event held Sept. 25 to Oct. 2 aimed to promote healthy and “creative aging” through the arts as well as to foster arts programs here tailored for the older generation.“The British Council in Korea has held a number of arts projects by inviting UK professionals to share their inclusive approaches to arts.

Oct. 7, 2019

[Photo News] Learning about K-Food

Corea Image Communication Institution President Choi Jung-wha (first row, third from left), Russian Ambassador to South Korea Andrey Kulik (second row, fourth from left) and Singaporean Ambassador to South Korea Eric Teo (second row, sixth from left) pose at the Korea CQ forum, where some 25 participants learned about and tasted products made by traditional Korean beef jerky brand Jungyookpo. The event, hosted by CICI, was held Sept. 24 at SMT House in southern Seoul. (CICI)

Oct. 1, 2019

[Diplomatic circuit] Argentine Embassy seeks to enhance cultural ties with Korea

The Embassy of Argentina here held an opening ceremony for the Sala Mirtha Legrand hall and the launch of El Ciclo de Cine Argentino 2019 on Thursday, with an aim to strengthen cultural ties between Argentina and South Korea. “Films are a bridge connecting the two countries culturally. Just as diplomatic relations expand into trade and politics, films will also help form friendly ties. This is why we have decided to screen Argentinian movies,” Argentine Ambassador to South Korea Alfr

Sept. 30, 2019

[Diplomatic circuit] EU ambassador to South Korea receives Austria’s presidential award

European Union Ambassador to South Korea Michael Reiterer received the Grand Decoration of Honor in Silver with Star for Services to the Republic of Austria in recognition for his service to his mother country, the related embassies said.“I am deeply honored that the President of the Republic of Austria conferred this high distinction upon me -- a recognition of my nearly four decades of work as a diplomat with assignments on three continents. ... I take this as an encouragement to continu

Sept. 30, 2019

[Diplomatic circuit] Experts from Korea, Kazakhstan shed light on denuclearization

Defense and nuclear experts from South Korea and Kazakhstan shed light on Kazakhstan’s denuclearization process in the 1990s as a reference for North Korea’s denuclearization, experts said.“North Korea’s denuclearization negotiation seemed to have hit a phase of stagnation, but recently there are signs of hope of reviving the talks,” said Lee Geun, president of the Korea Foundation, in the opening remarks at the second Korea-Kazakhstan Denuclearization Forum in cent

Sept. 30, 2019

[Diplomatic circuit] French Ambassador to present Etoile du Cinema awards to actress Bae Doona, ‘Parasite’ producer

French Ambassador to South Korea Philippe Lefort will present Etoile du Cinema awards to Korean actress Bae Doona and Kwak Sin-ae, producer of the award-winning film “Parasite,” in Busan this week, the embassy said.From Saturday to Sunday, Lefort will be attending the 2019 Busan International Film Festival, set to kick off Thursday.The trip marks Lefort’s first visit to Busan since he took the post here last year, the embassy said.In Busan, Lefort will also attend the screening

Sept. 30, 2019

[Diplomatic circuit]Oman Embassy invites Korean students to foster cultural understanding

The Oman Embassy in South Korea held an open-house program to showcase its rich culture and history to students as part of its public diplomacy. Over 50 students from Sangam Middle School in Seoul participated in the event, “Welcome to Oman,” which was held Aug. 27 in cooperation with the education department of the Seoul Metropolitan Office. Omani Ambassador Mohamed Al-Harthy welcomed the guests and delivered a lecture titled “Oman the Country of Sindbad and Land of Luban

Sept. 2, 2019

[Diplomatic circuit] Polish, UK envoys encourage students to reach for their dreams

The Korea Herald Young Diplomats Academy and the Young Opinion Leaders’ Knowledge Forum -- youth camps tailored for interaction with foreign diplomats, business leaders and renowned scholars -- have inspired future generations of leaders. The event at Yonsei International Campus in Songdo, Incheon, from Aug. 2 to 4 attracted over 200 elementary, middle and high school students, providing a platform for differentiated learning, discussion and communication in English. For the annual event,

Aug. 27, 2019

Seoul pledges $200K in humanitarian aid to drought-hit Namibia

South Korea will provide about $200,000 worth of humanitarian aid to Namibia, which has declared a state of emergency over drought, the government said Monday.The Ministry of Foreign Affairs said the African country has suffered from drought since October 2018, which has left up to 500,000 people or about 20 percent of the country's entire population short of food and water.  "The country will continue to expand its humanitarian assistance as a responsible member of the international c

Aug. 19, 2019

[Herald Interview] Korea, Pakistan should increase economic cooperation, says Pakistani adviser

South Korea and Pakistan should increase economic cooperation and discuss ways to leverage the strengths of both countries, Pakistan’s commerce adviser said during his visit to Seoul on Thursday.A seasoned businessman, Abdul Razak Dawood, the adviser to the prime minister on commerce, textiles, industrial production and investment, made bold business offers to the Korean government and local companies during his two-day trip to Seoul from Wednesday to Friday.  “Pakistan exports

Aug. 5, 2019

[Diplomatic circuit] Laos seeks Korea’s support for regional connectivity projects

Sharing borders with five member states of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations, Laos is seeking to facilitate the connectivity of infrastructure across the region by strengthening cooperation with South Korea. “There have been already a number of projects supported by the Korean government and implemented by Korean private companies in the past that contributed to the ASEAN connectivity in Laos,” Bounchanh Sinthavong, Laos’ minister of public works and transport, said in

July 15, 2019

Nuke envoys of S. Korea, US discuss cooperation ahead of working-level talks with N. Korea

Top nuclear negotiators from South Korea and the United States held talks in Germany on Thursday to discuss cooperation toward progress in working-level talks with North Korea, which are expected to resume this month, Seoul's foreign ministry said.South Korea's chief nuclear envoy, Lee Do-hoon, met with his US counterpart, Stephen Biegun, in Berlin as Washington and Pyongyang are seeking to re-launch their nuclear talks, likely in the middle of this month.During their impromptu meeting at the De

July 11, 2019