The Korea Herald

Two religious groups permitted to visit N. Korea for exchanges

Two South Korean religious groups were this week given approval for plans to visit North Korea to promote cooperation with their counterparts in the North, Seoul‘s Unification Ministry said Tuesday.The ministry said it approved the visits of the two group whose religions originated locally, one of which follows the Dangun beliefs and the other a Cheondogyo group, to visit Kaesong on Thursday and Friday, respectively.A total of 10 officials from the groups will travel to the North during the sepa

Foreign Affairs Nov. 6, 2012

Social protection key to economic growth: UNDP

Globalization spreads growth and risks. Trade and development have lifted many countries out of poverty but also left inequality and disintegration in their wake.To cope with the “growing pains,” countries should pursue a strategy that intrinsically combines growth and social protection in a way tailored to their unique conditions and specific needs, said Anne-Isabelle Degryse-Blateau, director of the United Nations Development Program’s Seoul Policy Center. “Social protection is actually an ess

Foreign Affairs Nov. 6, 2012

Social protection key to economic growth: UNDP

Seoul-Beijing ties to face new test with Xi Jinping at helm

Following is the second in a series of articles on the future relations between China and two Koreas under next Chinese leader Xi Jinping ― Ed.Despite ever-growing economic interdependence, South Korea and China remain discordant over history, territory, fishing, North Korean defectors and regional security issues.With China ushering in a new leader this week, the two governments are expected to continue to try containing those volatile issues from flaring up, as stable bilateral ties are crucia

Foreign Affairs Nov. 4, 2012

Seoul-Beijing ties to face new test with Xi Jinping at helm

Shift in N.K. policy unlikely under China’s new leadership

Following is the first in a series of articles on the future relations between China and two Koreas under next Chinese leader Xi Jinping ― Ed.One week before enthronement, China’s next leaders are expected to maintain their predecessors’ policy toward stability on the Korean Peninsula, experts said. Ahead of the once-in-a-decade power transition in the emerging global powerhouse, the international community is closely watching for any signs of shift in its policy toward Pyongyang. While almost n

Foreign Affairs Oct. 31, 2012

Shift in N.K. policy unlikely under China’s new leadership

Ban wins Seoul Peace Prize

United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon on Monday received this year’s Seoul Peace Prize on Monday for his devotion to world peace, the rights of women and children and the fight against climate change. He was granted $200,000 in honorarium at a ceremony in Seoul as the first Korean winner. The country created the biennial award in 1990 to commemorate its hosting of the 1988 Olympic Games here and those contributing to international peace and unity. Previous recipients include Kofi Annan,

Foreign Affairs Oct. 29, 2012

Anti-Dokdo stakes in U.S. spark furor

Recent bouts of vandalism in the U.S. aimed at claiming Japan’s sovereignty over the islets of Dokdo in East Sea have prompted an uproar in the Korean community there. A white wooden stake was founded Saturday at the entrance of Seoul’s consulate general in Manhattan in New York, officials said. It reads “Takeshima is Japanese Territory,” referring to Japanese name of the outcrops. A day earlier, a sticker with the same note was discovered near the signboard of the office’s petition room. A simi

Foreign Affairs Oct. 28, 2012

KAIST board accepts Suh’s resignation

The board of the Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology on Thursday accepted its president Suh Nam-pyo’s offer to resign on Feb. 23.Suh recently announced that he would step down in March after years of protests from professors and students against his reform measures. His term originally was to expire in July 2014.Instead of dismissing him immediately, the 16-member board decided to respect his position.“We agreed to allow him finish his term honorably and attend the school’s gradua

Foreign Affairs Oct. 24, 2012

GGGI chief sees synergy with GCF in Songdo

In less than a week, Korea has emerged as the center of global efforts to help developing countries implement a low-carbon growth strategy. The country was picked Saturday to host the secretariat of the Green Climate Fund, which will be the largest financial source for eco-friendly development for poor countries. On Thursday, Seoul successfully transformed its Global Green Growth Institute into an international organization to lead research and policy planning for the same cause.Richard Samans,

Foreign Affairs Oct. 23, 2012

GGGI chief sees synergy with GCF in Songdo

Bringing Kuwaiti, Korean cultures together

KUWAIT CITY ― Sheikha Alanoud Al-Sabah has been a fan of the Korean Wave since her first contact with its music and soap operas a few years ago.Mesmerized by the exotic culture, from fashion to history, the 28-year-old member of the Kuwaiti royal family is now playing a key role in promoting it through a monthly event hosted by the Korean Embassy.“We are exposed to Korean culture, drama and music. The embassy helped promote Korean movies, which was great. I personally like historic Korean dramas

Foreign Affairs Oct. 23, 2012

Bringing Kuwaiti, Korean cultures together

[Newsmaker] Climate fund boosts hopes for Songdo City

After years reeling from a lack of foreign investment and a moribund property market, Songdo is brimming with fresh vigor and a new vision as it was picked to house the secretariat of the Green Climate Fund. Long known for its seaside amusement park, the reclaimed island is the centerpiece of the Incheon Free Economic Zone, launched in 2003 with an aim of developing a leading business, logistics and tourism center in Northeast Asia.The ambition, however, was dented by doubts of its advantages ag

Foreign Affairs Oct. 22, 2012

[Newsmaker] Climate fund boosts hopes for Songdo City

Six nabbed for illegal sales of U.S. military equipment

Six South Koreans have been indicted after they allegedly bought and resold U.S. military equipment banned from circulation, police said Monday.The group, including a man surnamed Kim, is suspected of purchasing seven U.S. military items, such as night vision goggles and laser target designators, from an unidentified soldier stationed at a U.S. military base in Dongducheon, 40 km north of Seoul, in May of last year, the Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency said. Kim then allegedly smuggled the piece

Social Affairs Oct. 22, 2012

‘Double spy’ acquitted decades after execution

A Seoul court on Monday posthumously cleared a local man of espionage charges and apologized to his bereaved family a half century after he was executed for being a “double agent” for both Koreas.Shim Moon-kyu was sent to North Korea to carry out espionage activities in 1955, two years after the 1950-53 Korean War ended in a truce. Shim, however, was detected by the North and trained for one year and seven months to become a North Korean spy. Upon returning home, Shim immediately turned himself

Technology Oct. 22, 2012

Korea to submit formal continental shelf claim

South Korea plans to submit a formal claim to an extended portion of its continental shelf to a U.N. agency within a month or two, a government official said Monday, adding heat to already heightened territorial tension across East Asia. The Foreign Ministry has been readying official documents to present to the United Nations Commission on the Limits of the Continental Shelf scheduled to convene a seven-week session on Jan. 21, 2013. A member country should file its reports three months beforeh

Foreign Affairs Oct. 22, 2012

Korea, China call for calm over fisherman’s death

South Korea and China agreed Friday to work together to prevent the recent death of a Chinese fisherman during a Korean Coast Guard raid from damaging diplomatic ties. Chinese Ambassador Zhang Xinsen visited Korea’s Vice Foreign Minister Ahn Ho-young to discuss the incident that occurred in the West Sea Tuesday.Xinsen expressed hopes for “appropriate handling and humanitarian treatment” of the death and detained fishermen, a ministry official said.“The ambassador said he wishes for reinforced co

Foreign Affairs Oct. 19, 2012

Korea, China call for calm over fisherman’s death

Korea ranks lowest among leading donors

Korea has slightly improved its scores in an index of the rich world’s contributions to developing countries this year but still ranked the lowest among 27 donor countries due to its small funding scale, high trade barriers and limited acceptance of immigrants, a U.S. think tank said Friday.The Washington-based Center for Global Development, specialized in poverty and inequality research, has been compiling the annual Commitment to Development Index since 2003. It gauges donor countries’ commitm

Foreign Affairs Oct. 19, 2012

Articles by Shin Hyon-hee