South Korea needs to look beyond the major powers in its bid to denuclearize North Korea, former UN Undersecretary-General Kim Won-soo told the Korea CQ Forum in Seoul last week. Citing the EU’s role in Iran’s denuclearization talks, South Korea can bring India, Mexico, Indonesia, or other countries who share similar interests and have a significant international presence without being strongly aligned with the US and China, Kim said, stressing there are functional approaches

Diplomatic Circuit May 10, 2022

   Italy is a leading innovator with valuable opportunities for cooperation with Korean entities, says Italian ambassador to South Korea Federico Failla. Speaking at The Korea Herald’s Global Business Forum on May 4 in Seoul, Failla highlighted Italy’s past and continuing innovations, and its focus on green energy. According to Failla, Italy is committed to achieving carbon neutrality in 2050, and currently produces 20 percent of total energy from renewable sources, as w

Diplomatic Circuit May 10, 2022

Bulgaria has long been known for hearty traditional comfort food. But springing up around its classic cuisine is a new wave of culinary innovations thanks to exciting new chefs, eclectic restaurants and hip independent food producers serving up organic local produce with a contemporary flair. “In the last five or six years, Bulgarian food has been taken to a different level,” says Milen Zlatev, executive chef at Biorest restaurant in Sofia, Bulgaria. “I like to take something

Diplomatic Circuit May 3, 2022

South Korea and Ecuador are complimentary economies with potential for wider cooperation, Ecuadorian Ambassador Adrian Kao said in a recent interview with The Korea Herald. “There is a natural fit for deeper engagement between Ecuador and Korea,” Kao said, inviting Korean companies and institutions to consider Ecuador as a partner and to invest in Ecuador. Kao said that more than 20 Korean companies operated in Ecuador in infrastructure construction, consulting, natural resources,

Diplomatic Circuit May 3, 2022

The second edition of The Korea Herald’s Global Business Forum kicked off Wednesday in Seoul, under the theme of “Post-COVID-19 Global Business Opportunities and Trends.” The 13-week forum, held every Wednesday, is aimed at sharing and enhancing knowledge of the international community, and for exploring overseas investment opportunities and expanding business networks. GBF is a platform that gathers Korean business and financial leaders, diplomats as well as those from the c

People April 28, 2022

In 1962 Korea needed markets in new countries for its nascent strategy of export-oriented industrialization. Diplomatic relations were the first step in that direction. Fifteen Latin American and Caribbean countries benefited from this drive, including mine, the Dominican Republic. Exporting to my region has contributed to Korea becoming the world’s sixth largest exporter and the 10th largest economy. It is now a leading source of quality products at affordable prices. Coherence is the o

Diplomatic Circuit April 26, 2022

The Chilean Embassy in Korea, the Korean Council on Latin America and the Caribbean, the Korean International Trade Association and Korea’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs co-hosted a seminar on April 20 called “Chile and Korea 60 years looking to the future: bilateral relations from the perspectives of its protagonists” in a hybrid online and offline format. Commemorating the 60th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations, Chilean President Gabriel Boric and Korean

Diplomatic Circuit April 26, 2022

PERU EMBASSY RECEPTION -- Mayor of Lima, Jorge Munoz Wells, delivers a welcome speech at the Peru ambassador’s residence in Itaewon, Seoul, on April 19, during his visit to Seoul. Munoz Wells highlighted close relations, comprehensive strategic partnership, free trade agreements, modern smart city development, infrastructural projects and emerging areas of cooperation between Peru and Korea. (Sanjay Kumar/The Korea Herald)

Diplomatic Circuit April 26, 2022

In recent years, the authority and role of Uzbekistan, which under the leadership of President Shavkat Mirziyoyev, have been growing not only in the region, but also in the world; the country’s positive influence on the international dynamic has been increasing. It goes without saying that a vital role in this is played through active participation in the institutions of multilateral cooperation -- international and regional organizations. In this sense, Uzbekistan’s partnership with

Diplomatic Circuit April 26, 2022

Costa Rican Ambassador Alejandro Rodríguez Zamora sees several potential projects derived from Costa Rica’s “National Decarbonization Plan 2018-2050” that will open opportunities for Korean engineering, procurement and construction companies. The Costa Rican envoy highlighted that the plan includes the development of a mobility system based on renewable energy-driven public transport, construction of low-emission buildings, and an industrial transition to green energy.

Diplomatic Circuit April 12, 2022

Kazakhstan is ready to provide “maximum support” for large investment projects, tax exemptions, issuance of in-kind grants and solutions to infrastructure problems, Kazakhstan’s ambassador to Korea said in an interview with The Korea Herald Sunday. A special working group aimed at expanding investment cooperation with Korean businesses and implementing joint projects, chaired by Kazakhstan’s First Deputy Prime Minister Roman Sklyar, has been set up, Bakyt Dyussenbayev sa

Diplomatic Circuit April 12, 2022

DOHA, Qatar -- The Korea Herald signed a memorandum of understanding with the Peninsula, an English-language daily newspaper published from Doha, Qatar, to enhance media cooperation between Korea and the Gulf region at the Sheraton Grand Doha Resort and Convention Hotel in Doha on Sunday. Signed on the sidelines of 20th Doha Forum, the agreement is aimed at creating and exchanging journalistic content, boosting Korea-Qatar friendly relations and solidifying people-to-people contact by hosting e

People March 30, 2022

Tashkent, Uzbekistan -- Uzbekistan vowed to become a middle-income country by 2030 at the Tashkent International Investment Forum at Tashkent City Congress Hall in Tashkent on Thursday. Addressing the plenary session of the forum, Uzbek President Shavkat Mirziyoev outlined important measures to attract investment and practical proposals open up the country’s business environment as of this year. “We aim to make Uzbekistan one of the world’s middle-income countries by 2030, sa

Diplomatic Circuit March 29, 2022

DOHA, QATAR -- High level officials, policymakers and academics discussed geopolitical alliances and international relations, the financial system and economic development, defense, cyber and food security, and climate change and sustainability hoping to transform new era through diplomacy, dialogue, diversity and multilateralism at Doha Forum through March 26-27. Started in the year 2000, Doha forum is aimed to launch dialogue on critical challenges facing the world, promote the exchange of id

Diplomatic Circuit March 29, 2022

   Tashkent, Uzbekistan -- Uzbekistan vowed to become a middle-income country by 2030 at the Tashkent International Investment Forum at Tashkent City Congress Hall in Tashkent on Thursday. Addressing the plenary session of the forum, Uzbek President Shavkat Mirziyoev outlined important measures to attract investment and practical proposals open up the country’s business environment as of this year. “We aim to make Uzbekistan one of the world’s middle-income countrie

Diplomatic Circuit March 28, 2022