The Korea Herald

New flight draws Africa, Asia closer

Feb 5, 2012

First Korea-Kenya air link can give wings to business, tourismThe first chartered flight from Kenya to Korea shall be a “breakthrough” for tourism and trade, the Kenyan ambassador has said. The flight set to start this summer will allow travelers to make the trip between the two countries in under 14 hours, according to Kenyan ambassador Ngovi Kitau. The Korean Air flight will cut out a 10-hour stopover in Thailand that has hampered convenient travel between Incheon and Nairobi until now. Detai
Lee calls for closer economic ties, free trade deal with Turkey

Feb 5, 2012

ISTANBUL (Yonhap News) -- South Korean President Lee Myung-bak called Saturday for closer economic ties with Turkey befitting the "brotherhood" relationship between the wartime allies, saying a free trade deal would be a good way to lift economic relations.Lee made the remark during a meeting with T
Foreign ministry tightens discipline on diplomats

Feb 2, 2012

Ministry received lowest grade in anti-corruption commission’s transparency evaluationApparently appalled by the scandal over a diplomat’s alleged stock-rigging attempts, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade has begun tightening discipline, especially on diplomats working overseas.The Foreign Ministry on Thursday said it has recently summoned a consul general from Wuhan in central China over opaque accounting practices. The ministry has been internally auditing the case after the diplomat w
Ministry summons diplomat over CNK scandal

Feb 1, 2012

Unnamed official stationed abroad suspected of trading diamond miner stockThe Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade on Wednesday summoned an official from an overseas diplomatic mission suspected by the state watchdog of gaining personal profits through insider trading of CNK International stocks.“As the Board of Audit and Inspection ordered disciplinary measures on the unnamed official, we summoned the official from Europe. The BAI’s audit will be strictly reflected on the future course of pers
Lee celebrates 20th anniversary of relations with Kyrgyzstan

Jan 31, 2012

President Lee Myung-bak celebrated the 20th anniversary of diplomatic relations with Kyrgyzstan on Tuesday, pledging to further develop the countries’ ties in an exchange of messages with President Almazbek Atambaev.In their messages, both leaders expressed satisfaction that relations between the two countries have developed steadily since the 1992 opening of diplomatic ties, and agreed to work together to boost the relationship, the presidential office said in a statement.Lee also hoped for con
China has largest No. of Korean diplomats

Jan 31, 2012

Korea has more diplomats in China than any other nation, followed by those from the U.S. and Japan, according to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade.If excluding diplomats working in defense-related areas at the Korean Embassy in the U.S., the number of Korean consuls, economic and state affairs diplomats is the largest in China, the ministry said.The figures come as China has become the world’s second-largest economy, surpassing Japan in 2010, and emerged as part of the “G-2” with the U.S
Korea Society celebrates 55th year

Jan 31, 2012

The Korea Society, a New York-based private, non-profit organization that promotes understanding between the U.S. and Korea, celebrated its 55th anniversary at a gala dinner in Seoul on Tuesday.Dignitaries including Korea’s Prime Minister Kim Hwang-sik, Foreign Minister Kim Sung-hwan and U.S. Ambassador to Korea Sung Kim delivered welcoming and congratulatory speeches.Kurt Campbell, Washington’s top diplomat on Asia, who arrived in Seoul on Tuesday, made a special speech for the celebration of e
Nuclear summit itself to send message to N. Korea: official

Jan 30, 2012

HONG KONG (Yonhap News) -- A nuclear security summit to be held in Seoul in March may send an implicit message to nuclear-ambitious North Korea, although the secretive nation's nuclear issue is not on the summit agenda, a top official said Monday.The second Nuclear Security Summit is slated to take
Travel ban on Iraq, Syria extended for six months

Jan 30, 2012

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade said its travel ban on South Koreans in Iraq and Syria will be extended for six months, as geopolitical risks and instability are likely to continue in the region.The ministry held a visa policy commission meeting on Monday and decided that travel ban on Iraq will be extended for six months from Feb. 6, and that on Syria, from Feb. 29. South Korea imposed the travel ban on Iraq on Aug. 7, 2007, and on Syria on Aug. 30, 2011.The ministry said its decision
U.N. chief‘s top aide quits S. Korea’s foreign ministry

Jan 30, 2012

One of the close aides to U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon has quit South Korea‘s foreign ministry as he wants to focus more on his role as special adviser to Ban, Seoul officials said Monday. Kim Won-soo, a career Korean diplomat, has served as Ban’s deputy chief of staff and special adviser since 2007, when the former South Korean foreign minister took the helm of the U.N., while maintaining employee status at the ministry. As Ban embarked on his second five-year term as U.N. leader early th
Lee to visit Turkey, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, UAE

Jan 30, 2012

President Lee Myung-bak will embark on a weeklong visit to Turkey, Saudi Arabia, Qatar and the United Arab Emirates this weekend, his office said Monday, a trip expected to focus on enhancing economic cooperation, especially Seoul’s efforts to diversify sources of crude imports.The trip comes as South Korea prepares to reduce its crude oil imports from Iran in line with a U.S.-led campaign to dry up the Middle Eastern nation’s oil exports revenues as punishment and pressure over its alleged nucl
Indian poet’s voyages seen in Seoul

Jan 29, 2012

Scenes from the journeys of India’s former freedom fighter and poet laureate, Gurudeb Rabindranath Tagore, are being displayed in Seoul. The photographic exhibition showing Tagore’s sea voyages coincides with the country’s Republic Day celebrations.A celebration for the Indian community and a reception for diplomats were both held in Seoul to celebrate the country’s 63rd Republic Day last week. Recently-arrived Indian ambassador Shri Vishnu Prakash read excerpts from the Indian president’s Repub
Sri Lanka celebrations in Ansan

Jan 29, 2012

Sri Lankan artists are come from Colombo to perform in Korea to celebrate the anniversary of the country’s independence at an event on Feb. 5. Singer Deepika Priyadarshani Peiris and traditional Sri Lankan dancers are to help their country’s embassy mark the 64th anniversary of independence in Ansan city, where many Sri Lankan migrant workers live. The first large-scale event of its kind from the embassy will be held from 2-6 p.m. at the city’s Olympic Memorial Hall. The nation located off the s
Carnival ball to be held in Korea

Jan 29, 2012

A German carnival ball is to be held in Seoul on Feb. 3. Guests are invited to come in costume to the annual event to be held at the Millennium Seoul Hilton hotel from 7:11 p.m.Carnival is the period of celebration just before the Christian fast period of Lent. Many German cities still host carnival events dating back to the Middle Ages, where people dress in colorful and often topical or politically subversive costumes. “The carnival is also meant as a tool to unwind and to get rid of stress in
Oz talks Expo at 50th anniversary party

Jan 29, 2012

The Australian Embassy held an event Friday to mark the end of celebrations for the country’s 50th anniversary of diplomatic ties with Korea. Ambassador Sam Gerovich also shared plans for his country’s participation in the Yeosu Expo at the event. The Australian pavilion at the exposition to be held in Korea from May to August will be based on the theme of living in harmony with the ocean. Australia Day at the Expo will be held on May 25, and a contest is currently underway for Koreans to name