The Korea Herald

Seoul Global Center celebrations

Jan 15, 2012

Seoul Global Center is to host a New Year’s party on Jan. 19. The event to run from 2-5 p.m. will include a review session of SGC’s progress as well as an awards ceremony to recognize its volunteers. There will be an exhibition of photographs showcasing SGC activities as well as international foods to sample. Foreign guests are invited to wear their traditional costumes to the event. Attendees will also get the chance to experience Korean New Year customs, foods and folk games. Those wishing to
Norwegian singer to showcase in Seoul

Jan 15, 2012

Norwegian singer Bellman is to kick off a Korean tour with a performance at the Norwegian ambassador’s residence in Seoul. The melancholy rocker is to play at Torbjorn Holthe’s home on Jan. 17 before performing at EBS Space Hall on Jan 18 and 19. The one-man-band will also perform at Veloso Caf in Hongdae area at 8 p.m. on Jan. 20 and at Times Square M Net Pop at 6:30 p.m. on Jan. 21. His music is already known a little in Korea thanks to use of some tunes in advertisements here. The hit single
Spectacles of Uruguay come to Korea

Jan 15, 2012

An exhibition to showcase the beauty of Uruguay is being held in Korea. The photography exhibition entitled “Uruguay: The Best It Can Offer” is running from Jan. 13-24 in Seoul. “The aim is of showing different aspects of the country, including its natural characteristics, its cultural relics, urban landscapes and rural life, and to reflect the elegance, passion and vitality of the Uruguayan territory through these pictures,” said the Uruguayan ambassador to Korea Alba Rosa Florio Legnani. The p
Danish ambassador marks monarch’s 40th jubilee

Jan 15, 2012

The Danish ambassador to Seoul has celebrated the 40th anniversary of the reign of his country’s queen, and urged Koreans to learn more about the Danish royal family through the Crown Prince Couple’s visit in May. “The Danish Royal Family is deeply embedded in the identity of all Danish people, and H.M. Queen Margrethe II has been a very popular monarch throughout her 40-year reign,” Peter Lysholt Hansen said of the queen who took the throne on the death of her father, King Frederik IX, on Jan.
U.S. ambassador’s elementary school reunion

Jan 15, 2012

The American ambassador here has held a school reunion for his old Korean elementary school classmates. Sung Kim, who attended Eunseok Elementary School in Seoul until he left Korea in third grade, reunited with his former school buddies at a dinner at his ambassadorial residence in Seoul. “I attended Eunseok Elementary School over 40 years ago,” the ambassador wrote in a blog posting about the event. “Even though a lot of time has passed since then, my memories of my teachers, my classrooms, an
Korea publishes its first book on Hungary

Jan 15, 2012

The first book about Hungary has been published in Korea. The reference book “Hungary at a Glance” contains information in Korean on the European country’s history, politics, foreign policy, economy, society, education and culture. Hungarian deputy state secretary for global affairs Hovari Janos welcomed the publication at a publishing party at Sogang University in Seoul on Friday, saying: “By studying and learning about each other we can expect better cooperation opportunities and friendship in
S. Korea, U.S, Japan to hold high-level talks on N. Korea

Jan 13, 2012

WASHINGTON (Yonhap News) ― The United States announced Thursday that it will host a high-level trilateral meeting with South Korea and Japan next week to discuss next steps on North Korea, which is apparently seeking massive food aid.The session, to be held in Washington on Tuesday, is the first of its kind since the change of North Korean leadership following the sudden death of its longtime leader in December.But the U.S. said it is just part of “regular trilateral meetings in order to exchang
No decision yet on cutting oil from Iran: official

Jan 13, 2012

South Korea has made no decision yet on how much to cut its crude oil imports from Iran as part of a U.S.-led campaign to sanction the Middle Eastern nation over seeking nuclear weapons programs, an official said Friday.Presidential spokesman Park Jeong-ha made the remark, denying a newspaper report that Seoul is expected to slash up to half of its crude imports from Iran amid concern a drastic cut could have negative effects on Asia’s fourth-largest economy.Iran accounts for about 10 percent of
Kim visits U.S. base, says alliance firm against N.K.

Jan 13, 2012

South Korean Foreign Minister Kim Sung-hwan said Friday the country’s alliance with the United States is more firm than ever to help deter any “provocation” from North Korea, amid concerns over stability in the North after the death of Kim Jong-il.Kim made the remarks as he visited the U.S. military’s 2nd Infantry Division located in the city of Dongducheon, 40 kilometers north of Seoul, to offer American soldiers encouragement and New Year greetings.“The ROK-U.S. alliance stands more firmly tha
P.M. Kim visits Middle East amid Iran crisis

Jan 12, 2012

China, Japan quickly move to secure alternative oil suppliers in case of oil embargo on IranPrime Minister Kim Hwang-sik left the country Thursday to visit Oman and the United Arab Emirates on a trip that will last until Thursday, as Korea seeks alternatives to Iranian oil.The government is reportedly reviewing plans to reduce oil imports from Iran to 2010 levels while seeking an exemption for Korea in the application of the U.S. National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2012, which cal
S. Korea, China could launch free trade talks in coming months: FM

Jan 12, 2012

SEOUL, Jan. 12 (Yonhap) -- South Korean Foreign Minister Kim Sung-hwan said Thursday his government could launch formal talks with China on forging a bilateral free trade agreement, possibly in the first half of 2012, after finishing domestic procedures to start the talks within "a few months."Presi
Foreign Ministry to open senior posts to non-diplomats

Jan 10, 2012

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade said it will open 14 senior posts at overseas diplomatic missions to non-diplomats, a move to boost the expertise and competitiveness of South Korean diplomacy. Four of the posts are economic diplomatic ministers in the U.S., China, Japan and Russia.The ministry said it issued an advance notice of the new legislature through the official government newsletter last week. The ministry will gather public opinions by Jan. 19 about the changes.It is the first
Seoul-Tokyo cooperation critical to dealing with N. Korea: Amb. Shin

Jan 9, 2012

TOKYO (Yonhap News) ― Cooperation between South Korea and Japan will be important in dealing with uncertainties arising from North Korea’s leadership change, Seoul’s top envoy to Tokyo said Monday, as Kim Jong-un consolidates power in the communist regime.South Korea and Japan share common interests in maintaining peace and stability on the Korean Peninsula, leading to mutual exchanges of information regarding the North and joint responses to related issues, Ambassador Shin Kak-soo said in an in
Seoul kids to enjoy Israeli dance

Jan 8, 2012

Kids in Korea have the chance to enjoy dance from Israel this week ― in an adaptation of a classic children’s book. The performance “A Flat for Rent” is based on a children’s story by Hebrew author and poet Leah Goldberg. The show by Israel’s Kibbutz Dance Ensemble reinterprets the famous story of quarreling neighbors ― a hen, cuckoo, squirrel, cat and mouse ― living in the same building. The colorful dance performance promises to tell what happens when the mouse packs up and vacates the apartme
Two jobs open at Danish embassy

Jan 8, 2012

A new commercial officer and an investment officer are being sought to work at the Embassy of Denmark in Seoul. The embassy is seeking two experienced staff members to promote investment opportunities in Denmark to Korean companies and to assist Danish businesses wishing to enter or already active in the market here. The commercial officer will be responsible for the life science sector, including pharmaceutical products, medical devices and biotechnology. Prior experience in the sector would be