The Italian Cultural Institute unveiled the DIVE- 4 DIVAS exhibition in Seoul on Wednesday in celebration of 20th century Italian cinema. The exhibit pays homage to four iconic Italian actresses, including Sophia Loren and Claudia Cardinale, and recognizes prominent film industry illustrators of the ‘50s and ‘60s. The exhibit displays 36 original movie posters of the divas by these illustrators. The evocative and imaginative posters, with unique interpretations from each artist, lent to the mass

The British Embassy awarded 24 Korean government officials and a North Korean defector in Seoul on Wednesday with scholarships for postgraduate studies in the United Kingdom.This year’s scholarship awarded officials from the Ministry of Education, Science and Technology, the Prime Minister’s Office, the Ministry of Strategy and Finance, and the Ministry of Health and Welfare among others. British Ambassador Scott Wightman also gave a special notice to Hong Sung-il (alias), a North Korean defecto

The French Embassy awarded 23 Korean students with scholarships in Seoul on Tuesday for postgraduate education in France.The Blaise Pascal Scholarship will provide expenses for students already pursuing master’s and doctoral degrees in French universities.“Because the embassy is helping me, I am really happy that I was able to receive this opportunity and am really thankful,” said Hong In-hye, who plans to study French literature. Over 150 students applied for the Blaise Pascal scholarship this

The Korea-Colombia Free Trade Agreement will be a win-win opportunity for both economies and help further strengthen the “brotherhood” forged through blood during the Korea War, the Colombian Ambassador said Tuesday.Jaime Cabal expects the FTA to take effect as early as March after the two countries finish domestic procedures including securing parliamentary approval for the deal. The Colombian government hopes to receive confirmation from its congress by this December and implement its first FT

Travel writer and relief worker Han Bi-ya, called on the Korean government on Tuesday to shift its foreign aid policy to a more specialized, grant-based approach.She underlined the significance of close cooperation between the government, development-related agencies and non-governmental organizations in crafting programs that reflect the needs of recipients. “While Korean NGOs and other related sectors have secured some level of professionalism in development and relief activities, the governme

Jerusalem College of Technology President Thierry Dana-Picard (second from right), Israeli Ambassador Tuvia Israeli (right), Kenyan Ambassador Ngovi Kitau (left) and Argentinean Ambassador Carlos Albertos Arganaraz (center) pose before a lecture on science and religion, in Seoul on Tuesday.  (Robert Lee/The Korea Herald)

The Khmelnytsky Academic Regional Symphony Orchestra performed in Seoul on Wednesday in honor of the 20th anniversary of diplomatic relations between Ukraine and Korea.The concert was a joint effort between the Ukrainian Embassy and the Korea International Culture Exchange Association. Professional Korean musicians played alongside the Ukrainian orchestra. According to the Ukrainian Embassy the concert kicks off a series of cultural events called the Days of Culture of Ukraine held in Korea this

The Colombian Embassy celebrated its national day, which coincided with the 50th anniversary of diplomatic relations with Korea, in Seoul on Monday.Colombian Ambassador Jaime Cabal applauded the growing relationship between Korea and Colombia, citing recent events that have cemented the two nation’s bilateral relations.On June 25, Korea and Colombia signed a bilateral free trade agreement during President Lee Myung-bak’s visit to the Latin American country.Cabal called the first visit by a Korea

Honorary consuls of and in Korea gathered from all over the world in Seoul on Wednesday for a welcoming reception hosted by the head of honorary consuls in Korea.The Dean of the Corps of Honorary Consuls in Korea, Cho Hae-hyeong, hosted the event to welcome some 18 honorary consuls of Korea overseas. Cho has served as the honorary consul general of Iceland to Korea since 1978.The honorary consuls from overseas were invited by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade to meet with their honorary

The Korea International Cooperation Agency kicked off its sixth exhibition at the Global Village in Seongnam, Gyeonggi Province, on Wednesday featuring the culture and history of Algeria, Tunisia and Morocco.The joint exhibition between KOICA and the embassies of the three nations located in the region of Northwest Africa, known as the Maghreb, held the biggest opening ceremony since the first exhibit in Mongolia in 2010.“This exhibition is a display of the three countries of the Maghreb region

The French Embassy celebrated its National Day while reflecting on its growing diplomatic relations with Korea, in Seoul on Friday. The reception, which commemorated the storming of the Bastille fortress in 1789, was also an occasion to applaud the long standing relationship Korea and France have enjoyed. France and Korea established diplomatic relations in 1886.French Charge d’ affaires Fabrice Leggeri called the relationship “strong and substantial,” during a speech at the French residence. Le