The Korea Herald

[Herald Interview] ‘E-government key to good governance’

Apr 27, 2014

This is the fifth installment in a series of interviews with chiefs of United Nations offices in Korea. ― Ed.With Korea’s advanced information technology, its know-how in e-government services could provide a key tool for developing countries to help achieve good governance and effective public administration, the head of the U.N. Project Office on Governance said. “E-government is one of the best paths to good governance that the humans have found so far, playing a key role in achieving a wide
Two envoys’ homes robbed in a month

Apr 27, 2014

The residence of Fijian Ambassador to South Korea Filimone Kau was burglarized late on April 19, the second residence of a foreign envoy in the Yongsan district to be robbed in a little over a month. Not far from the Fijian ambassador’s residence, located in Itaewon 2-dong, the house of Uzbek Ambassador to South Korea Alisher Kurmanov in Hannam-dong was robbed on March 12. Police ruled out any connection between the two crimes. Two thieves made off with 150,000 won ($144) in cash and 450,000 won
Korea plants sapling offered by Obama after ferry disaster

Apr 27, 2014

The high school that lost hundreds of students and teachers in a tragic ferry sinking on Saturday planted a magnolia sapling offered by U.S. President Barack Obama in a token of sympathy and condolences, a South Korean government official said.Danwon High School in Ansan near Seoul planted the tree near its front gate, said presidential spokesman Min Kyung-wook.Obama brought the sapling from the White House for the high school when he came to Seoul on a two-day official visit that began on Frida
Polish ambassador receives honorary degree in law

Apr 27, 2014

The Polish ambassador here received an honorary academic degree from Keimyung University in an official ceremony in Daegu on April 17.Polish Ambassador to South Korea Krzysztof Majka received the degree, a doctorate in law, from the university for his “numerous significant contributions, promoting economic, political, artistic and cultural exchange between Korea and Poland,” according to a statement from the Polish Embassy.The envoy was actively involved in the summit meeting between President P
Previously unknown art unearthed by Czech envoy

Apr 27, 2014

A previously unknown painting by early modern Korean artist Bae Un-seong was discovered by Czech Ambassador to South Korea Jaroslav Olsa Jr. after a yearlong search in the Czech Republic.After an exhaustive search, the ambassador said that at least two paintings by Bae, considered a founding father of modern Korean art, had been located in the Czech Republic, including the previously unknown painting by the artist titled “Weltreise (Trip Around the World).”The painting was found among a collecti
Envoy lauds Argentina’s signature varietal at annual wine tasting

Apr 27, 2014

Sommeliers, importers and wine connoisseurs of all stripes swirled, sniffed and swished their glasses at a Malbec World Day wine tasting at a hotel in downtown Seoul on Wednesday.The popularity of Argentine wine has been on the rise recently following the boom in wines from its neighbor Chile, which signed an FTA with South Korea in 2004. On World Malbec Day, the embassy commemorates malbec, the South American country’s signature varietal used to make its flagship wine, said Argentine Ambassador
Longevity key in S. African freedom

Apr 27, 2014

Even today, Africa is a continent often judged through a prism of harsh stereotypes. That makes the longevity of South African freedom all the more meaningful as the country marks the 20th anniversary of its democracy this year, according to its top diplomat here.South Africa commemorates freedom and democracy on its National Day, called Freedom Day, which takes place on April 27. “The idea of freedom, 20 years of freedom ― you know, I voted for the first time in 1994 ― is a real, real thing,” s
Commonwealth vets honored in new war monument

Apr 27, 2014

They were dubbed the “glorious Glosters” for their heroic last stand in 1951 during the Korean War.More than 60 years later, 100 Commonwealth veterans, spouses, widows and other family members came to South Korea to commemorate and honor their brothers fallen at the Battle of Imjin River, and for the unveiling of a multimillion-dollar monument honoring them in Paju, Gyeonggi Province, on Wednesday, the anniversary of the battle.A towering beret, which is set against the backdrop of photographs o
Allies to review command transfer timing

Apr 25, 2014

The leaders of South Korea and the U.S. agreed Friday to reconsider the timing of Washington’s transfer of its wartime operational control of Korean troops, scheduled for 2015, in the face of persistent North Korean nuclear threats.During their summit in Seoul, Presidents Park Geun-hye and Barack Obama also warned the communist state against conducting a fourth nuclear test, vowing further pressure and sanctions that have “even more bite.” With Seoul-Tokyo ties remaining frosty, Obama took a swi
Obama: May be time for more N. Korea sanctions

Apr 25, 2014

President Barack Obama says it may be time to consider further sanctions against North Korea ``that have even more bite‘’ as the country is threatening its fourth nuclear test.Addressing a joint news conference alongside South Korean President Park Geun-hye, Obama said threats by North Korea will get it ``nothing except further isolation‘’ from the global community. But Obama acknowledged there are limits to what impacts additional penalties can have on the country.　 ``North Korea already is the
Dokdo subject to S. Korea-U.S. defense treaty: Seoul

Apr 24, 2014

The easternmost South Korean islets of Dokdo are subject to the mutual defense treaty between South Korea and the United States, the foreign ministry said Thursday, suggesting that a foreign attack on the islets would lead to joint countermeasures. "Our government's stance is that Dokdo is a territory under South Korea's administrative control as stipulated in the South Korea-U.S. Mutual Defense Treaty," foreign ministry spokesman Cho Tai-young said in a briefing. Cho's comments indicate that So
In Seoul, Obama to mourn victims of ferry sinking

Apr 22, 2014

U.S. President Barack Obama will spend much time and effort expressing sympathy over the loss of people in a tragic ferry sinking when he visits Seoul later this week, a White House official said Monday."I can certainly expect that this will be a big part of his trip," Ben Rhodes, deputy national security adviser for strategic communication, told reporters. "I'm sure the president will want to find a way to express to those families and to the people of the Republic of Korea how much we support
[Herald Interview] Green growth meets creative economy

Apr 21, 2014

New GGGI chief expects synergy with Seoul’s key innovation drive
Korea, China slam Abe’s shrine offering

Apr 21, 2014

TOKYO (AFP) ― Japan’s Prime Minister Shinzo Abe sent a gift to the controversial Yasukuni war shrine Monday, sparking a charge that he was offering “a slap in the face” to U.S. President Barack Obama days ahead of his visit.The unapologetically nationalist Abe donated a sacred “masakaki” tree to coincide with the start of a three-day festival, a shrine official said.The sending of a gift has been seen as a sign that Abe does not intend to go to the shrine ― as he did on Dec. 26, sparking fury in
Japan warns over China ship seizure

Apr 21, 2014

TOKYO (AFP) -- Tokyo warned Monday that the seizure of a Japanese ship in Shanghai over pre-war debts threatened ties with China and could undermine the very basis of their diplomatic relationship.Authorities in Shanghai seized the large freight vessel in a dispute over what the Chinese side says are unpaid bills relating to the 1930s, when Japan occupied large swathes of China.The move is the latest to illustrate the bitter enmity at the heart of Tokyo-Beijing ties, with the two sides embroiled