The Korea Herald

Iran to 'reconsider' ties if S. Korea cuts oil imports

Jun 29, 2012

TEHRAN - Iran will reconsider its ties with South Korea if the Asian nation halts imports of Iranian oil from Sunday, as Seoul has said it will be forced to do because of EU sanctions."If South Korea completely cuts its oil imports from the Islamic Republic of Iran, then in return we will reconsider our relations with this country,"Oil Minister Rostam Qasemi said on Thursday, according to the off
Busan Global Partnership and development cooperation’s future

Jun 28, 2012

On Nov. 29, 2011, more than 3,000 participants gathered in the bustling city of Busan to attend the fourth High Level Forum on Aid Effectiveness. Its outcome, the “Busan Partnership for Effective Development Cooperation,” is the most inclusive agreement on the effectiveness of development cooperation to date.In addition to setting out shared principles, common goals and differentiated commitments to effective cooperation, participants agreed to forge a global partnership to support these efforts
Iran threatens to halt imports of Korean goods

Jun 27, 2012

Iran threatened to cease importing Korean products on Wednesday in retaliation to Seoul’s decision to halt purchasing Iranian crude in line with EU sanctions. “Iran may decide to fully stop imports of Korean goods if the Korean government realizes its decisions to ban Iran oil imports,” Hormoz Ghahremani, a spokesperson for the Iranian Embassy in Seoul, told the Korea Herald.The Ministry of Knowledge Economy said Tuesday it will suspend oil imports from the Gulf country starting July 1, when an
Seoul, Beijing agree to cooperate on illegal fishing

Jun 26, 2012

South Korea and China agreed Tuesday to step up cooperation to rein in illegal fishing by Chinese fishermen in Korean waters, the Foreign Ministry said. The two sides held the first talks since they launched a joint consultative body in January to address the rampant poaching. Foreign ministry officials and maritime police participated in the meeting in Beijing.“The meeting enabled both sides to h
Vietnam detains activist for helping N. Korean defectors

Jun 25, 2012

HANOI (Yonhap News) ― A South Korean activist has been detained in Vietnam in connection with his work related to North Korean defectors, Seoul officials here said Monday. The 51-year-old activist, who is only identified by his surname Yoo, was arrested by Vietnamese authorities last Wednesday at a hotel in Ho Chi Minh on suspicion of helping North Korean defectors, according to officials at the South Korean embassy in Hanoi. Yoo was arrested for allegedly helping arrange a way for some North Ko
S. Korean activist detained in Vietnam for helping N. Korean defectors

Jun 25, 2012

HANOI -- A South Korean activist has been detained in Vietnam in connection with his work related to North Korean defectors, Seoul officials here said Monday.The 51-year-old activist, who is only identified by his surname Yoo, was arrested by Vietnamese authorities last Wednesday at a hotel in Ho Chi Minh on suspicion of helping North Korean defectors, according to officials at the South Korean em
Lee expects S. Korea-Colombia trade to jump five-fold under FTA

Jun 25, 2012

BOGOTA-- President Lee Myung-bak said he expects trade between South Korea and Colombia to jump five-fold over the next five years if the two countries implement a free trade agreement, saying the deal would create a win-win situation for both sides.Lee made the remark in an interview with Colombia's leading El Tiempo newspaper published Sunday. Lee arrived in Bogota on Saturday for a three-day vi
Korea, India agree on prisoner pact

Jun 24, 2012

An agreement on the transfer of sentenced persons came into effect between India and South Korea, continuing a string of judicial agreements between the two countries.The agreement to deport each other’s citizens so that they may stand trial and imprisonment in their respective countries came into effect on June 18.India Ambassador Vishnu Prakash and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade’s director general of international legal affairs held an exchange of instruments of ratification on the
Morocco, Korea celebrate 50 years of ties

Jun 24, 2012

The Korea-Arab Society held its fifth annual Arab Cultural Festival on Tuesday, coinciding with Korea and Morocco’s 50 years of diplomatic ties.The festival featured performances by the Moroccan Orchestra Chabab Al Andalous offering Korean people a chance to experience Moroccan Andalusian music.Kim Sung-hwan, minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade applauded the festival for “deepening mutual understanding,” and “strengthening the ties of friendship between Koreans and Arabs.” Moroccan Ambassador
Spanish language day enjoyed at Expo

Jun 24, 2012

Attendees of the Yeosu Expo enjoyed the world’s fair “en Espanol” this weekend as Spanish-speaking nations celebrated their language in Korea. The Spanish and the 15 Latin American pavilions participating in the Expo hosted a range of events from 10 a.m.-6 p.m. on Saturday to celebrate the Day of the Spanish language in the Republic of Korea. The event was organized jointly with the Aula Cervantes of Seoul and Accion Cultural Espanola in order to promote and spread the Spanish language in Korea.
Czech literature celebrated in Korea

Jun 24, 2012

The Czech Embassy has held an event to show that there is more to the European nation’s literary riches than Franz Kafka and Milan Kundera. The reading at the COEX Seoul International Book Fair on Thursday focused on three authors whose books have been translated into Korean.Excerpts from books by Jan Neruda, Karel Capek and Martin Harnicek were read at the event at Seoul’s COEX center. Neruda is a narrator of tales of 19th century gothic Prague as yet unknown to Korean public. Excerpts from his
Wives enjoy Pakistani hospitality

Jun 24, 2012

Spouses of ambassadors and Korean senior government officials enjoyed the colors of “Vibrant Paksitan” through a documentary, and models wearing the country’s dress at a recent get-together. The head of the Seoul International Women’s Association also joined them to enjoy sumptuous Pakistani cuisine and experienced traditional Hinna, which is put on the hands of Pakistani brides and is also used during religious festivals such as Eid. This edition of the monthy diplomatic spouses’ meeting was ho
British ambassador shares advice on branding a nation

Jun 24, 2012

The British Embassy is trying to shift Koreans’ perception of the country away from seeing it as just a nation of rain and gentlemen. U.K. Ambassador Scott Wightman shared some secrets on nation branding at a lecture in Seoul on Thursday. The ambassador said that a key part of his embassy’s work was addressing some outdated ideas held in Korea about the U.K. A recent survey found that the perceptions of people here tended to be “positive but old-fashioned.”“My aim is to change perceptions here s
Bangladeshi envoy to leave Korea for France

Jun 24, 2012

Bangladeshi Ambassador Shahidul Islam is soon to leave Korea, but he has done much to boost relations between the two countries during his time here. While the ambassador said he would miss Korea, friends and bibimbap as he sets off in July for his new posting as ambassador to France, he said he was happy with the friendship that had grown in his more than four years in the posting.He and his wife Jesmeen held a reception at his official residence in Songbuk-dong on Thursday ahead of their leavi
Video contest on ‘What America means to you’

Jun 24, 2012

The U.S. Embassy is hosting a video contest to find out what America means to people in Korea. Creative types are invited to film short clips showing what the U.S. represents to them, whether it be New York, Lady Gaga or the Titanic.Entrants are invited to use their creativity to portray their impressions of America in a 30-second video, addressing any U.S.-related topic including dance, art, culture, business or movies. Ambassador Sung Kim and the U.S. Embassy’s social media team will select tw