The Korea Herald

Seoul-idifying the art of batik diplomacy

Jun 26, 2011

From panda to shuttle to ping pong to even Facebook diplomacy, there are many different kinds of diplomatic practices that aim to inform, entertain and bring two nations closer together. There is now a new form of diplomacy straight from the Indonesian island of Java; one which is so heavily entrenched in their culture that even their president, government officials and sultans wear it on official
Putting EU FTA into practice

Jun 26, 2011

In the language of free trade agreements, the phrase “comprehensive deals” usually means long and complicated sections that take many hours to find out how they apply to a given industry.The European Delegation last week invited representatives of EU companies, embassies of EU member states and local importers of EU products to join in a one-day seminar that covered all aspects related to making t
Diplomat licensed to help needy children

Jun 26, 2011

France’s Bertrand devotes Saturdays to volunteer workFor most of us, Saturdays are our personal time to spend with the family or hang out with friends and escape the rat race of work. For Lydie Bertrand, Saturday is her special day, not because she explores the country or goes shopping; instead she feeds her spirit by helping those who need it the most.“There are not many things in life that give
Sung Kim, Obama's choice for stable management of NK, public diplomacy

Jun 26, 2011

WASHINGTON -- With the pick of Sung Kim, a Korea-born career diplomat, as his new ambassador to Seoul, U.S.President Barack Obama aims to handle the North Korean nuclear issue in a more professional way and step up public diplomacy with South Koreans, officials and experts here said. Kim, 51, is on a path to become the first person of Korean origin to serve as U.S. ambassador to Seoul, a his
U.S. envoy calls for revival of Kim Dae-jung’s unification vision

Jun 24, 2011

Through the late South Korean President Kim Dae-jung’s reconciliatory ideals, Seoul and Washington should work together on achieving a reunified, peaceful Korean Peninsula, U.S. Ambassador Kathleen Stephens said during a recent Memorial Day ceremony. Stephens published on her weblog the speech she gave at a national park in Jindo on June 6 Memorial Day. “On this Memorial Day … we honor the memory
European firms offer internship to N. Korean defectors

Jun 24, 2011

SEOUL, June 24 (Yonhap) -- HSBC Bank and several other European companies in South Korea plan to offer a rare internship program to dozens of North Korean defectors in a move to give them work experience, an official said Friday. Under the initial program, 20 North Korean college students and graduates in the South are scheduled to work as interns at about 10 European firms for about three mon
Leaders of N. Korea, Russia planning summit: reports

Jun 24, 2011

TOKYO/MOSCOW, (Yonhap) -- Russian President Dmitry Medvedev and North Korean leader Kim Jong-il are planning to hold their first meeting later this month or early next month in the Russian Far East, news reports claimed late Thursday.Citing local officials and Russian public security officials, Kyodo News reported that the two countries are considering having a summit around next Thursday on the o
Presidential aide in U.S. for possible talks on N. Korea, FTA: source

Jun 23, 2011

SEOUL, June 23 (Yonhap) -- A key South Korean presidential aide on national security is visiting the United States for possible talks on inter-Korean relations and the ratification of a free trade agreement between Seoul and Washington, a source said Thursday.Kim Tae-hyo, a senior secretary to President Lee Myung-bak for national security strategy, left for the U.S. on Wednesday, the source added,
China puts ‘Arirang’ on Chinese heritage list

Jun 23, 2011

"Arirang' is played at the music concert in Yeonpyeong Island. (Yonhap News)The Chinese government is claiming to have developed some of Korea’s cultural heritage.Often causing discord by claiming to be the originators of foreign culture, China this time listed Korean folk song “Arirang” in the third list of their National Intangible Cultural Assets.“Arirang” is a Korean folk song sung by Koreans
Ban Ki-moon gets second term as UN chief

Jun 22, 2011

U.N. General Secretary Ban Ki-moon (AP-Yonhap News)UNITED NATIONS (AP) _ The U.N. General Assembly voted unanimously to give Ban Ki-moon a second term as secretary-general Tuesday, praising him for strengthening the world body's role and visibility in difficult circumstances.The 192-member assembly applauded loudly as it adopted a resolution giving the 67-year-old South Korean diplomat another fiv
Minister to visit New York on N.K., Ban

Jun 20, 2011

South Korean Foreign Minister Kim Sung-hwan will make a congratulatory speech on the reelection of Ban Ki-moon as the U.N. secretary-general in New York on Tuesday, after which he will hold talks with U.S. officials over North Korea’s nuclear standoff, the Seoul government said. Kim left for New York on Monday, four days ahead of his scheduled meeting with U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton,
India releases oldest prisoner, aged 108

Jun 20, 2011

India's oldest inmate Brij Bihari Pandey was released at 108.LUCKNOW, India (AFP) - Prison authorities in India have released the country's oldest inmate, 108-year-old Brij Bihari Pandey, who was convicted of a murder he committed at the age of 84, officials said Saturday.Pandey, a Hindu priest, was freed on Friday by a court in the northern state of Uttar Pradesh on humanitarian grounds as prison
U.N. to reelect Ban Ki-moon as chief this week

Jun 19, 2011

South Korea hailed the reelection of Ban Ki-moon as the U.N. Secretary-General over the weekend, as the Security Council cleared the South Korean diplomat of his last barricade in heading the international body for another five years. Following the council’s approval, the 192-member General Assembly will hold a definitive vote this week. The 67-year-old diplomat is certain to win a second term as
Seoul says lack of apology no longer 6-way talks dealbreaker

Jun 19, 2011

South Korea is easing its previous stance that it will not resume any kind of dialogue with North Korea until Pyongyang apologizes for last year’s deadly attacks, Seoul officials said Sunday. The two Koreas, still technically at war, have had their frostiest ties in decades since the North conducted two naval attacks that killed 50 South Koreans.Since the last attack in November, Seoul has suspend
UNESCO cultural center opens in Daejeon

Jun 19, 2011

The Intangible Cultural Heritage Centre for Asia and the Pacific in Korea under UNESCO is open.The center represents more than five years of work on the part of the Cultural Heritage Administration, beginning with the task force under the Korea Cultural Heritage Foundation in October 2006. It is the first UNESCO-related organization dealing in cultural heritages to open in Korea.“Today, cultural d