South Korea has designated a career diplomat with expertise on Asia as its new ambassador to Japan, a government source said Tuesday.Lee Joon-gyu, 62, is to replace Yoo Heung-soo, who offered to resign last month, according to the source who requested anonymity.Lee served as ambassador to India until last year. Lee Joon-gyu (Yonhap)His official inauguration will take some time since he has to receive so-called "agreement" from Tokyo, a diplomatic procedure that could take up to 40 days.Lee, who

May 24, 2016

The Bulgarian Embassy and Jungnang-gu district jointly held the Seoul Rose Festival over the weekend, decorating the strip of land along the Jungnangcheon Stream with rosy fanfare. During the inaugural ceremony Friday, a memorandum of understanding was signed between the two sides, pledging further cooperation in culture, arts and physical education. The venue attracted more than 160,000 guests over three days, establishing itself as a hallmark festival representing Seoul. It was first conceived

May 22, 2016

Two brothers from Nepal are on a cycling journey across the world to raise awareness on saving the environment and preventing HIV. They arrived in Korea in early May, hoping to spread their goodwill. “Our main purpose is to make people aware of the deteriorating nature and the harmful effects of stigmatizing HIV-AIDS patients. We reach out through the media in countries we visit,” Amrit Baral, 28, told The Korea Herald at the Nepalese Embassy last week. “We chose the bicycle because it is the mo

May 22, 2016

ISTANBUL -- Ahmed Hassan Makur is a Syrian refugee who has for the last four years dwelled in Turkey’s Nizip Temporary Accommodation Center near Gaziantep north of the border with Syria. When the war erupted in his country in 2011, he escaped with his family and found refuge in Turkey that has welcomed nearly 3 million of his compatriots. “Thank God, everything is good. We are quite happy here. Turkish people are very hospitable,” the 50-year-old man told reporters in mid-May in the two-room con

May 22, 2016

The Polish Embassy celebrated its National Day last week at a reception that highlighted enhancing ties with Korea. In Poland, May 3 commemorates the creation of the world’s second constitution in 1791, after the U.S. constitution written in 1787.“The constitution was a remarkable historical achievement and a modern democratic triumph,” Polish Ambassador Krzysztof Ignacy Majka said at Millennium Seoul Hilton on Wednesday. “Although Poland was occupied and removed from the European map for 123 ye

May 15, 2016

If North and South Korea unifies, integration will be paramount, say experts, highlighting Germany’s ongoing efforts to bridge identities formerly divided by the Cold War. In North Korea, where the Kim dynasty has ruled with a bloodstained, ironfisted grip for over 70 years, many people have suffered pain and trauma over the years, according to observers. Thus, they note, redressing such physical and psychological baggage will prove more arduous than institutional and financial harmonization.  P

May 15, 2016

Models dressed in colorful traditional clothes walked down the aisle, riveting audiences with their dazzling drapery. The glittery show was a collaboration between Algerian and Korean designers, showcasing the unique identities of both countries’ fashion. Part of a joint cultural program, the event at Coex in Seoul on Thursday featured clothing by Algerian designer Samir Kerzabi and Korean designers Park Hyo-hee and Ham Eun-jeong. A model showcases a newly interpreted traditional dress by Algeri

May 8, 2016

To mark its fifth anniversary, the Arab film festival will showcase movies this month that will unravel the intricate tapestry of culture and humanity in the Middle East and North Africa. The event will run from May 25-June 1 at the Arthouse Momo in Ewha Women’s University in Seoul and Busan Cinema Center. Tickets are free and first come, first served. Fifteen films encompassing a broad range of genres and subjects will be presented. Most of them premiered last year, and they include: “A Mile in

May 8, 2016

Today is Europe Day: an annual celebration of the continent’s peace and unity. However, with the prospect of Britain exiting the European Union looming large, the EU’s state of integration is being questioned more frequently the world over. The supranational union of 28 member states, with a total population of 508 million people, has been divided by the issue of refugees from the Middle East and North Africa, and shattered by terrorist attacks, with the latest in Brussels in late March that kil

May 8, 2016

The ASEAN-Korea Center organized a workshop last week to help enhance the presence of Korean cosmetics firms in Southeast Asia and share knowledge and experience with regional companies. The event -- “ASEAN-Korea technology cooperation seminar” – was attended by 18 representatives from both the private and public sectors of nine countries. During the five-day event, which was jointly organized by the Korea Cosmetics Association, participants shared knowledge and experience of Korean firms, parti

May 2, 2016

 “Denmark Kids Fair” -- a symposium of diverse children’s brands from Denmark – will be held at the Hyundai Department store in Pangyo, Gyeonggi Province, from May 2 to 8. Organized by the Danish embassy in celebration of Children’s Day on May 5, the event will showcase popular brands, including Flexa and Steens for furniture, Lego and Plus-Plus for toys and Rice for tableware. Participants will have a chance to receive giveaways through social media, alongside lucky draws. There will also be di

May 2, 2016

The city of Lodz -- located in the heart of Poland and Europe -- is ideal for the “creative class” of professionals who value high-quality living as much as their high salaries. A former powerhouse for the textile industry since the mid-19th century, the third-largest city in Poland has refurbished itself offering lofty lifestyles and opportunities. Rows of redbrick tenements and factories were revitalized into fashionable spaces of business and living, artistic expression and entrepreneurial ex

May 1, 2016