[Contribution] 70 years ago, Costa Ricans buried arms for peace, progress

By Costa Rican Ambassador to Korea Rodolfo Solano Quiros Seventy years ago, on Dec. 1, 1948, Costa Ricans stood arm in arm to say goodbye to a history of violence and war: We abolished our army as a nation forever.Instead of a military parade where soldiers march brandishing their guns and artillery, our national celebrations are marked by children and youths carrying the Costa Rican flag, colorfully dressed in school uniforms. The decision has allowed the force of reason to guide our history, f

Dec. 3, 2018

[Herald Interview] Irish aid reaches most vulnerable with compassionate passion

Bangladesh’s Rohingya refugees receive support from Concern Worldwide. (Concern Worldwide)Imagine the following situation: A mother and her children are abused by their husband-father, starved, beaten and neglected over a long time.Without outside help, they might not survive. If you heard the news, would you exhort the father to rectify his behavior, then simply turn a deaf ear? Or, knowing there’s no hope in him, take matters into your own hands to help them?The latter approach -- helping the

Nov. 26, 2018

Lebanon: A bulwark for peace, harmony in the Middle East

Lebanese Ambassador to Korea Antoine Azzam (Joel Lee / The Korea Herald)In the aftermath of the Syrian Civil War, which broke out in 2011 as part of the Arab Spring uprising, Lebanon has welcomed more than 1.5 million Syrian refugees in addition to the 500,000 Palestinians taking shelter in the country, according to the Lebanese Embassy in Seoul. With refugees comprising one-third of Lebanon’s population of more than 6 million, their presence has placed a large burden on the country’s resources.

Nov. 26, 2018

Baku celebrates centenary of Azerbaijan Democratic Republic

Marking the centenary of the Azerbaijan Democratic Republic, the Azerbaijani Embassy in Seoul organized a conference and photo exhibition Nov. 19 at the National Assembly in cooperation with the Korea-Azerbaijan Interparliamentary Friendship Group. “Azerbaijan Democratic Republic -- the first parliamentary democracy with a republican form of governance in the Muslim world -- was also the first model of a democratic secular state all over the East, including the Turko-Muslim world,” said the coun

Nov. 26, 2018

Korea to send top diplomat to inauguration ceremony of Mexico's new leader

South Korea will send its top diplomat to the inauguration ceremony of new Mexican President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador next month, Seoul's foreign ministry said Friday.Foreign Minister Kang Kyung-wha will join the ceremony in Mexico City on Dec. 1 and plans to deliver South Korean President Moon Jae-in's handwritten letter to the new leader, which expresses his hope to strengthen bilateral ties, the ministry said.Mexican President-elect Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador (Reuters)During her stay, the

Nov. 23, 2018

French, foreign envoys honor comrades of WWI

French Ambassador to Korea Fabien Penone honors fallen comrades and active-duty servicepersons at a ceremony marking the 100th anniversary of the end of World War I at the War Memorial of Korea in Seoul on Nov. 11. (Yonhap)Marking the centenary of the end of World War I, French diplomats, veterans and their international colleagues paid homage to fallen comrades and active-duty servicepersons at a commemorative ceremony at the War Memorial of Korea in Seoul on Nov. 11.Veterans of the French Batt

Nov. 19, 2018

[Herald Interview] ‘Latvia, Korea kindred spirits in self-determination, multilateralism’

Latvian Ambassador to Korea Peteris Vaivars (left) poses with his spouse, Rina (center), and Latvian Embassy staff at the National Day reception in Seoul on Friday. (Joel Lee/The Korea Herald)This year marks the 100th anniversary of the Latvian declaration of independence from Russia following the end of World War I. The brief period in 1918 opened up a window of opportunity for the three Baltic States -- Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania -- to assert their freedom and sovereignty from foreign power

Nov. 19, 2018

[Contribution] How Hungary brought knowledge of Korea to socialist Europe

The tomb of King Kija in Pyongyang is photographed by Hungarian scholar Aladar Soveny in 1955. (Hungarian Embassy in Seoul)By Hungarian Ambassador to Korea Mozes CsomaImproving relations between the two Koreas cannot be done in the absence of cultural collaboration.In this regard, the two Koreas’ joint compilation of the Korean-language Gyeoremal Comprehensive Dictionary and exploration of the palace of Manwoldaegung in the North’s Kaesong -- the royal seat of the Goryeo Dynasty (918-1392) -- re

Nov. 19, 2018

Southeast Asian, Korean youths bring out innovative startup ideas

The ASEAN-Korea Center collaborated with several Korean institutions to host an entrepreneurship forum on Nov. 12. The event, titled ASEAN-Korea Youth Innovation Forum, brought together the creative business ideas of some 400 participants from Korea and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations. It was held at Yongsan Dragon City in Seoul and jointly organized with the Science and Technology Policy Institute, Seoul Metropolitan Government and Korea Entrepreneurship Foundation. Held in conjuncti

Nov. 19, 2018

[Herald Interview] Tapping Korean experience to tackle world’s development challenges

With the three-year extension of the World Bank Group Korea Office Trust Fund Agreement (2018-20), the loan-providing international financial institution’s office here will continue to leverage Korean experience to tackle sustainable development challenges worldwide, according to its Special Representative Soh Hoon Sahib.“The WBG Korea office can work with Korean stakeholders to help the latter participate in development projects throughout Asia and beyond,” he told The Korea Herald. “Our cooper

Nov. 12, 2018

Latvia, Korea sign legal cooperation accord

Latvian Ambassador to Korea Peteris Vaivars (right) and Korean Bar Association President Kim Hyun (Latvian Embassy)The Latvian Embassy in Seoul signed a memorandum of understanding with the Korean Bar Association on Nov. 6 to promote legal cooperation between Latvia and Korea. Latvian Ambassador to Korea Peteris Vaivars and Korean Bar Association President Kim Hyun signed the agreement aimed at strengthening bilateral mutual exchanges, including training programs, the provision of legal assistan

Nov. 12, 2018

Polish-Ukrainian firm unveils wireless phone charger at startup program

A picture of a home powered by electronic devices charged by TechNovatorXE (TechNovator)Polish-Ukrainian company TechNovator has developed a wireless smartphone charger and showcased its prototype at the K-Startup Grand Challenge Startup Campus in Pangyo, Gyeonggi Province, Wednesday. TechNovatorXE is a remote wireless charger that energizes multiple devices simultaneously within 5 meters, and is safe for people and the environment alike, according to the company. The system also has a unique fe

Nov. 12, 2018

Poland marks centenary of independence with friendly marathon

Polish Ambassador to Korea Piotr Ostaszewski (front row, left) poses with the winners of the Polish Independence Run at Ttukseom Hangang Park in Seoul on Sunday. (Polish Embassy)To mark the 100th anniversary of the country regaining its independence, the Polish Embassy organized a friendly marathon at Ttukseom Hangang Park in Seoul on Sunday morning.Over 400 people participated in the annual Polish Independence Run, which comprised 10- and 5-kilometer runs and a 1-kilometer walk for families. Th

Nov. 12, 2018

EU, Iran defy US reimposition of Iran sanctions

European Union High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Federica Mogherini (left) and Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif attend the final press conference after the Iran nuclear talks in Vienna on July 14, 2015. (Yonhap)The top foreign and finance ministers of the European Union member states issued a joint statement on Nov. 2 repudiating the United States’ reimposition of sanctions on Iran, according to the British Embassy in Seoul. The statement gave credence to t

Nov. 12, 2018

Humanitarian law workshop trains journalists for better protection

Korean journalists, communication officers and staff of the International Committee of the Red Cross missions in Seoul and Beijing, including head of Seoul office Georgios Georgantas (top, fifth from right), pose at a workshop on international humanitarian law in Seoul on Thursday (ICRC)In their truth-seeking and public service, many journalists risk their lives reporting in some of the most dangerous places around the world. In many cases, they are arrested, detained, reported missing, wounded

Nov. 5, 2018

Turkey, Korea deepen future-oriented cooperation

Turkey and Korea carry on their long history of exchanges, and increasingly cooperate to secure prosperity and a harmonious world order, according to Turkish Ambassador to Korea Ersin Ercin.“Turkey has continued to grow and develop across all fields over the last 95 years. We have emerged as one of the fastest developing nations in the world by the early 21st century,” he said in a speech at the country’s 95th anniversary reception last week in Seoul. “Our hope is that Turkey will reach its long

Nov. 5, 2018

SIWA to host charity bazaar

The Nordic booth at last year's SIWA Bazaar (SIWA)The Seoul International Women’s Association will organize its 56th annual SIWA-Diplomatic Community Bazaar under “Share Culture, Share Love, Share Life” on Nov. 12 from 10 a.m. through 2 p.m. at Lotte Hotel. The event is one of the largest fundraisers in Seoul, attracting thousands of locals, expats and tourists. Last year, over 30 embassies and several expat organizations, local businesses, sponsors, welfare groups and SIWA volunteers worked tog

Nov. 5, 2018

[Herald Interview] Combining humanitarian, development aid key to sustainable rehabilitation: Turkish envoy

Since the Syrian Civil War broke out in 2011 as part of the Arab Spring uprising, Turkey has welcomed more than 3.5 million Syrian refugees, offering shelter, food, health care and education. As a result Turkey was the world’s largest humanitarian aid donor last year in terms of the ratio of official humanitarian assistance to national income at 0.85 percent. Ankara’s foreign policy prioritizing humanitarian assistance needs more international recognition and support, the top Turkish envoy to Ko

Nov. 5, 2018

Moon thanks Indian PM for sending him 'Modi jackets'

President Moon Jae-in expressed thanks to Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday for sending him some "Modi jackets," a vest-like sleeveless jacket the Indian leader usually dons.Moon uploaded photos of him wearing the jackets in a Twitter posting, saying they "fit great." A captured image of President Moon Jae-in`s Twitter posting expressing thanks to Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi for sending him some "Modi jackets." (Yonhap)"This is a Modi jacket modified from a traditional Ind

Oct. 31, 2018

‘Egyptian military safeguards bilateral cooperation’: defense attache

Egyptian Defense Attache Col. Maged Elwan (second from right) poses at a reception for the 45th anniversary of Egyptian Armed Forces Day on Wednesday. (Joel Lee/The Korea Herald)The Egyptian Embassy in Seoul and its Defense Office marked Egyptian Armed Forces Day on Wednesday. On Oct. 6 each year, Egypt celebrates the October War of 1973, also known as the 1973 Arab-Israeli War or Yom Kippur War. The war began with the Egyptian Army’s crossing of the Suez Canal as part of Operation Badr, which c

Oct. 29, 2018