With a diverse portfolio of international organizations, Songdo is seeking to become a leading business, tourism and logistics destination in Northeast Asia. Long known for its seaside amusement park, the reclaimed island is the linchpin of the Incheon Free Economic Zone, which, since its 2003 inception, has been grappling with budget woes, flagging foreign investment and a moribund property market. The launch of U.N. offices and other multinational bodies in recent years was deemed a much-neede

Foreign Affairs Sept. 12, 2014

Ranking officials of Korea and Japan held talks on Friday to discuss ways to boost trilateral cooperation with China and restore bilateral relations frayed by historical and territorial brawls. Deputy Ministers Lee Kyung-soo and Shinsuke Sugiyama agreed on the need to put the three-way partnership back on track and bring about a foreign ministers’ meeting and eventually a summit, Seoul officials said. The consultations came on the sidelines of a high-level meeting on Thursday that included Liu Z

Foreign Affairs Sept. 12, 2014

Korea, China and Japan have agreed to restart their three-way high-level dialogue in nearly one year in efforts to mend relations eroded by territorial and historical brawls, Seoul’s Foreign Ministry said Friday.The one-day event is slated for Sept. 11 in Seoul, bringing together Lee Kyung-soo, Seoul’s deputy minister for political affairs; Liu Zhenmin, Beijing’s vice foreign minister; and Shinsuke Sugiyama, Tokyo’s deputy minister. It will be the first deputy minister-level gathering since last

Foreign Affairs Sept. 6, 2014

The following is the sixth in a series of articles on Japan’s wartime sexual enslavement of Asian women on the occasion of the 61st anniversary of the foundation of The Korea Herald on Aug. 15. ― Ed.On Wednesday around noon, some 100 activists, students and other citizens crowded outside the Japanese Embassy in Seoul, braving the wet weather and sudden drop in temperature. Their age, gender and political inclination may have varied, but they had one common cause: to urge Tokyo to atone and compe

Foreign Affairs Sept. 3, 2014

Some 500 top policymakers, academics and relief workers from around the world stressed the significance of good governance in achieving sustainable economic growth and social integration during a conference in Seoul on Tuesday. While definitions of good governance may differ, they picked transparency and credibility as key elements, calling for governments in both advanced and emerging countries to step up efforts to improve these areas. The one-day annual event was hosted by the Korea Internati

Foreign Affairs Sept. 2, 2014

The following is the fourth in a series of articles on Japan’s wartime sexual enslavement of Asian women on the occasion of the 61st anniversary of the foundation of The Korea Herald on Aug. 15. ― Ed.Since former “comfort women” came forward in the early 1990s, the government, academics and activists have been building a treasure trove of documents, photos and other publications to substantiate Japan’s sex slavery during World War II. While the victims’ testimonies serve as the most vivid and im

Foreign Affairs Aug. 27, 2014

Senegal President Macky Sall has laid out his vision to build competitive, diversified and sustainable agriculture. This vision, driven by the Plan Senegal Emergent, targets the economic emergence of our country by focusing on agriculture capable of: feeding its population better and sustainably on an endogenous basis; reaping the benefits of international trade; securing and increasing rural incomes; and obtaining agricultural and nonagricultural jobs. The Accelerated Program for Agriculture in

Foreign Affairs Aug. 27, 2014

Since the financial crisis in 2008, we have been witnessing marked changes to the global economic landscape. One such change, within Asia and the Pacific, is the recognition of the need to find new growth engines beyond the strategy of exporting to developed markets. As this year’s Economic and Social Survey of Asia and the Pacific highlights, the solution to invigorating the region’s growth lays in enhancing regional cooperation and connectivity, by allowing ease of access to a greater pool of

Foreign Affairs Aug. 27, 2014

Twenty top policymakers from 10 developing countries gathered Monday to explore ways to improve their rural revamp and regional development strategies based on Korea’s experience. The Korea International Cooperation Agency, in charge of the country’s grant aid, is hosting the weeklong training session to share its know-how from the Saemaul Movement, an agricultural and community reform campaign in the 1970-80s. Korea International Cooperation Agency President Kim Young-mok (fifth from left, fron

Foreign Affairs Aug. 25, 2014

A former Japanese prime minister, who offered a landmark apology for the country’s wartime atrocities, lashed out at incumbent Prime Minister Shinzo Abe on Friday for his ongoing attempts to chip away at Tokyo’s previous efforts to atone for its imperial past and move relations with neighbors forward.Tomiichi Murayama called on Abe to follow through on his promise to uphold previous apologies, which he said serve as foundations for better Seoul-Tokyo ties. Marking the 50th anniversary of the end

Foreign Affairs Aug. 22, 2014

Chung Kwan-yong likes to call himself a “gray man.” In a country long plagued by ideological extremism and political hostility, the label often connotes cowardice, irresoluteness and disloyalty. But to the renowned liberal intellectual, debate host and commentator, it is a proud reflection of his life-long endeavor to promote communication between left and right and forge a middle road based on fairness, tolerance and civic awareness.Korea is acutely in need of such virtues, now more than ever.

Politics Aug. 22, 2014