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

Diplomatic Circuit June 4, 2018

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

Diplomatic Circuit June 4, 2018

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

Diplomatic Circuit June 4, 2018

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,”

Diplomatic Circuit June 4, 2018

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

Diplomatic Circuit May 28, 2018

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

Diplomatic Circuit May 28, 2018

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

Diplomatic Circuit May 28, 2018

CAPE TOWN, South Africa -- Promenading on a pier in front of Port Elizabeth at sunset, Michael Makeleni ran into friends of all sorts, young, old, white, black and Asian, who hugged him and exchanged pleasantries. It struck me, a reporter from South Korea, how serendipitous, frequent and unassuming the encounters were. “Thank you for giving us hope, respect and love,” said the 50-year-old Xhosa man, as the sunlight cast its golden glow over the beach and the city. “People like me have been given

Travel May 25, 2018

BRUSSELS, May  21, 2018 (AFP) - Facebook chief Mark Zuckerberg has agreed to live-stream his meeting with European Parliament members as he answers questions in the wake of the Cambridge Analytica scandal, a top official said Monday.The meeting on Tuesday with the parliament’s most senior members was initially set to be held behind closed doors.But influential MEPs had pushed for a public hearing following the worst crisis in Facebook‘s history.“I have personally discussed with Facebook CEO Mr Z

World Business May 21, 2018

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

Diplomatic Circuit May 21, 2018

The Georgian Embassy last week celebrated the centennial anniversary of the Democratic Republic of Georgia, the nation’s first modern, democratic state established on May 26, 1918 and lasting through Feb. 25, 1921.“This year, all Georgians throughout the world share the festive spirit of this very special occasion in our country’s millennialong history,” said Georgian Ambassador to Korea Otar Berdzenishvili in a speech at a reception in Seoul on May 15. “The declaration of independence 100 years

Diplomatic Circuit May 21, 2018

South Koreans should empathize with the plight of the Palestinians under Israeli occupation as the country seeks peaceful coexistence with North Korea, and deals with Japan to redress lingering injustices from the colonial occupation, said the head of nongovernmental organization Help Syria in an interview. Abdul Wahab, who established the NGO dedicated to aiding Syrians under the Syrian government’s brutal oppression, took part in a protest in front of the Israeli Embassy in Seoul on May 14 aga

Diplomatic Circuit May 21, 2018

The Mexican Embassy in Seoul, in collaboration with Mexican company Grupo Promax, opened the Mexican Garden inside the Suncheon Bay National Garden in South Jeolla Province.The garden covering an area of 900 square meters symbolizes the convergence of ancient and modern Mexican civilizations in vibrant colors. Rows of dahlias, Mexico’s national flower, palm trees and other national plants decorate the site atop a grass-covered stone structure, the embodiment of the Mayan Kukulkan pyramid. Colorf

Diplomatic Circuit May 18, 2018