President Park Geun-hye will visit and hold summits with her Russian and Chinese counterparts starting Friday as Seoul seeks to defuse tension with the two countries over its plan to station advanced US missile defense assets here, Cheong Wa Dae said Thursday. Park is scheduled to land in Vladivostok for a two-day stay during which she will deliver a keynote speech at the Eastern Economic Forum and hold a summit with her Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin. From Sunday, she is expected to attend

Foreign Affairs Sept. 1, 2016

Driven by technological know-how and shared values, Washington is pushing to step up cooperation with Seoul to help combat poverty in underdeveloped countries in such fields as girls’ empowerment and science and technology, a senior US aid official said Wednesday. John Seong, who is in charge of policy coordination with Seoul and Tokyo for the US Agency for International Development as a counselor at the US Embassy in Japan, underscored the need to craft fresh ways to mobilize finances and build

Foreign Affairs Aug. 31, 2016

The international community should continue to capitalize on political will and diversify funding sources through partnerships to achieve inclusive growth going forward, experts said Wednesday. Some 400 policymakers, academics and relief workers from around the world gathered for the Seoul ODA International Conference hosted by the Foreign Ministry and the Korea International Cooperation Agency. Under the theme “Looking Back and Moving Forward,” the two-day event sought to explore better ways to

Foreign Affairs Aug. 31, 2016

On Monday afternoon, hundreds of people gathered at Namsan Park in central Seoul to mark the introduction of a memorial for the victims of Japan’s sexual enslavement during its 1910-45 colonial rule.  The establishment of the “Site of Memory” was funded by nearly 20,000 ordinary Koreans and steered by a civilian committee with the support of Seoul City. The 1,000-square-meter venue was once the home of the Japanese resident-general of Korea. It was exactly 106 years ago that day that Japan unila

Foreign Affairs Aug. 30, 2016

A North Korean diplomat posted in Russia has recently fled the host country, marking the latest in an ongoing string of defections by Pyongyang’s elite members, news reports said late Thursday. The official, whose identity and current whereabouts remain unclear, is known to have had served at Pyongyang’s trade representative within its consulate-general in Vladivostok before leaving there with his family. Affiliated with the North’s Ministry of External Economic Affairs, the secretary-level dipl

North Korea Aug. 26, 2016

The fund for the victims of Japan’s sex slavery during World War II plans to offer each of its survivors some 100 million won ($89,500) and the families of the deceased victims 20 million won in cash benefits, Seoul officials said Thursday. The decision came one day after Japan’s Cabinet approved the transfer of 1 billion yen ($9.9 million) pledged under the two countries’ Dec. 28 settlement intended to end the disputes. Seoul has since set up the Reconciliation and Healing Foundation, a public-

Foreign Affairs Aug. 25, 2016

North Korean leader Kim Jong-un hailed the latest test of a submarine-launched ballistic missile as the “success of all successes,” state media said Thursday, as the UN gears up to condemn the event that would likely beef up the country’s nuclear capabilities. The young ruler observed Wednesday’s liftoff during which the projectile flew about 500 kilometers before falling into Japan’s air defense zone, marking the weapon’s longest flight and signaling sweeping technological advances. The experim

North Korea Aug. 25, 2016

President Park Geun-hye on Monday urged North Korean officials and ordinary people to join Seoul’s efforts for reunification, while reiterating her calls for Pyongyang to abandon its nuclear ambition.During her address for the 71st Liberation Day, Park also defended Seoul’s decision to station the U.S.’ advanced missile defense assets here as a necessary step to counter Pyongyang’s “reckless threats.”“Officials of the regime and all North Koreans, a unification will offer a fresh chance for all

Politics Aug. 15, 2016

Korea’s civil servants, elected officials, journalists and officials of private educational institutions must soon abide by this new discipline: They cannot receive free meals that cost more than 30,000 won ($27), presents worth over 50,000 won or monetary gifts valued 100,000 won or higher. The Improper Solicitation and Graft Act -- or the Kim Young-ran law, named after its initiator and the former chief of the Anti-Corruption and Civil Rights Commission -- is poised to reshape the country’s cu

Social Affairs Aug. 12, 2016

The controversial visit by six first-termers of The Minjoo Party of Korea to China was met with little fanfare since their arrival on Monday, as the Seoul government continued to slam the trip and reaffirmed the need to station the U.S.’ Terminal High Altitude Area Defense system here.“We’re at a critical moment when it’s more important than anything to gather strength from all people in unison to surmount this grave security situation, instead of incurring internal division and confrontation th

Politics Aug. 9, 2016

Despite persistent controversy over the fate of a memorial for the survivors of Japan’s wartime sexual enslavement, Japan ought not to raise the issue as a precondition for the transfer of the pledged 1 billion yen ($9.8 million) for a newly created fund, its chief warned Sunday.  Kim Tae-hyeon, president of the Reconciliation and Healing Foundation, was adamant that last December’s settlement with Seoul would be annulled if Tokyo insisted on removal of the statue in front of its embassy in Seou

Foreign Affairs Aug. 7, 2016

Disputes escalated further on Sunday as some lawmakers seek to visit China this week in an apparent protest against Seoul’s plan to station a U.S. anti-missile system here.Six first-termers of The Minjoo Party of Korea pledged to push ahead with their plan to meet with Chinese academics and South Korean residents there starting Tuesday. The delegation has been openly displaying resistance to the government‘s decision to install a Terminal High Altitude Area Defense deployment battery in the sout

Politics Aug. 7, 2016

Korea’s first-ever public diplomacy act took effect Thursday, laying the legal and institutional groundwork for activities aimed to raise awareness among foreign citizens of its policies and interests.The legislation and its enforcement decree, respectively enacted last February and May, are designed to facilitate the central government’s coordination with municipalities, private entities and other stakeholders, streamlining the planning process and minimizing overlaps.The landmark law comes as

Foreign Affairs Aug. 4, 2016

Signs of discord have emerged in international collaboration on North Korea’s nuclear and missile provocations in the face of China’s opposition to installing a U.S.’ antimissile system in South Korea. The allies faced Beijing’s resistance as they pushed to issue a condemnation by the U.N. Security Council over Pyongyang’s latest firing of two ballistic missiles on Wednesday, one of which fell into the Japanese waters for the first time.  The 15-member council met behind closed doors for an emer

North Korea Aug. 4, 2016