The Korea Herald

S. Korean diplomat in Japan returns home to prepare for elections

Nov 8, 2011

A senior South Korean diplomat in Japan has resigned only nine months after taking office, citing preparations to run for next year’s parliamentary elections, an official said Tuesday.Kim Seok-ki, the consul general in Osaka, recently submitted his resignation to the presidential office and returned home on Monday, the Foreign Ministry official said.Kim has reportedly cited his plan to run in the parliamentary elections scheduled next April.The move comes nine months after the former police chie
Korea, Vietnam discuss atomic power plant deal

Nov 8, 2011

President Lee Myung-bak and visiting Vietnamese President Truong Tan Sang discussed during their summit talks Tuesday bilateral cooperation including a project to build nuclear power plants in Ninh Thuan, southwestern Vietnam. Vietnam plans to build a 10-unit atomic power station in Ninh Thuan in 2014. Korea is seeking to build the fifth and sixth units. “The two sides closely observed Korea’s proposal on the use of Korean technology for nuclear power plant development in Vietnam, human resource
U.N. forum discusses nuclear security

Nov 7, 2011

Nuclear experts and officials from around the world kicked off an annual United Nations forum on the southern resort island of Jeju Monday to highlight the importance of strengthening nuclear security, setting the stage for a global summit of the same theme to be hosted by South Korea next year.The Republic of Korea-U.N. Joint Conference on Disarmament and Non-proliferation Issues, now into its 10th year, comes as Seoul is preparing to host some 50 world leaders in March for the second Nuclear S
First Korean-American ambassador to Seoul ‘honored’ to get role

Nov 6, 2011

WASHINGTON (Yonhap News) ― As the first Korean-born U.S. ambassador to South Korea, Sung Kim on Friday insisted that the nations’ alliance is not a “zero-sum” game and dismissed concerns that he may face a conflict between American interests and great expectations among people in his motherland.He said it’s the utmost honor for him to assume the post, not a burden, although it is a “huge challenge.”“I know that there is huge expectation among the Korean public, and that’s fine. I am completely c
Vietnam leader seeks better Korean partnership

Nov 6, 2011

Sang notes vibrant economic ties, hopes for continued exchange of development experienceVietnamese President Truong Tan Sang said he will discuss ways to strengthen strategic cooperation with South Korean President Lee Myung-bak during his visit to Seoul Nov. 8-10.In an e-mail interview with The Korea Herald ahead of his trip to Korea, the Vietnamese leader emphasized that the two countries should expand cooperation in all areas to keep their relations flourishing as part of the partnership esta
Southeast Asian food highlighted at expo

Nov 6, 2011

The ASEAN-Korea Centre will showcase food and beverages from 29 companies of 10 ASEAN countries during the Korea Food Expo.Amid growing interest in ASEAN food and beverage products in the Korean market, the Centre intends to further promote products from members of the Southeast Asian bloc by displaying and introducing a wide selection of goods including frozen seafood, confectionery, dried fruit, pre-cooked frozen food, and beverages in the Korean market.Moreover, the ASEAN-Korea Centre will pr
Luxembourg ICT seminar at BEXCO

Nov 6, 2011

The Luxembourg Trade and Investment Office is holding a seminar regarding the European country’s information communication technology industry during the G-Star Trade and Game Show in Busan.Luxembourg is one of the leading ICT industry countries in Europe hosting several international recognized companies such as eBay, Amazon, Skype and PayPal.The seminar will be held on Nov. 10 from 4:30-6 p.m. at the BEXCO.The presenter will be senior advisor director from the Luxembourg Ministry of Economy an
Irish-Korea essay competition launched

Nov 6, 2011

An Irish-Korean Essay Competition for university students is being held for the first time.Organized by the Irish Embassy and the Irish Association of Korea, the competition seeks to raise awareness of the connections between both countries. The competition will allow contestants to compete for an opportunity to experience Ireland from an educational, cultural, and academic perspective, by offering the winner an opportunity to study in one of Ireland’s leading private language institutes for one
Helping El Salvador recover from floods

Nov 6, 2011

The El Salvador Embassy is accepting donations to help the country recover from the devastating tropical depression that hit the country and region last month.Strong storms hit Central America and southern Mexico for nearly two weeks in mid-October.In El Salvador, the hardest hit country, 1 million people have been affected, at least 34 people have lost their lives and almost 56,000 have been evacuated and housed in temporary shelters nationwide. The damage to infrastructure is also great with a
Indian visa center reopens

Nov 6, 2011

Applying for a visa to visit India has been made easier with the reopening of the Indian Visa Application Center.From now on, the center will handle all visa related matters, types and categories for Korean and foreign nationals wishing to visit India.The Center is located at the Hyundai Liberty House, 258 Hannam-dong, Yongsan-gu. The office of the Indian Visa Application Center will operate from 9 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. on all working days with a lunch break from 1-2 p.m.All applicants and agents wi
Food security tests and answers

Nov 6, 2011

The world saw last week its population reach 7 billion, a milestone that raises critical questions of who will feed the rapidly expanding number of people on the planet. “Whether you are number 7 billion or number 7 billion and one, all of us, in this generation and the next, must have enough safe, nutritious and affordable food,” said Kanayo F. Nwanze, president of the International Fund for Agricultural Development. “As the population grows exponentially, we must support smallholder farmers so
Discovering Machu Picchu in Seoul

Nov 6, 2011

Covered under thick vegetation, as if claimed by Mother Nature as her own, the lost Inca city of Machu Picchu was discovered and made public in 1911 by U.S. archeologist Hiram Bingham.Through a photo exhibition, the Peruvian Embassy is celebrating the centennial anniversary of the discovery of one of the New Seven Wonders of the World, first at the Korea Foundation Cultural Center until Nov. 12 and then at Sookmyung Women’s University until January.Having been there twice, Peruvian Ambassador Ma
Matching Korea’s growth with Canadian tech

Nov 6, 2011

Ambassador will fuel energy ties, promote green sector, beef, FTAA new face is heading the Canadian Embassy and with recent arrival, David Chatterson, is bringing Canada’s image of a clean country to the relationship.The driving force for the relationship between the countries lies in Korea’s economic growth and Canada’s richness in high-end technology and resources.“I’m a policy guy who wants to promote people-to-people exchanges,” said the ambassador.Chatterson first came to Korea in 1982 whil
U.S. lawmakers urge S. Korea to pass FTA

Nov 3, 2011

WASHINGTON (Yonhap News) -- While celebrating the recent passage in the U.S. Congress of a free trade agreement (FTA) with South Korea, lawmakers here on Wednesday voiced bipartisan demand for their counterparts in Asia to follow suit.“We’ve all waited enough. I hope it will take into effect as soon as practicable,” Rep. David Camp (R-Michigan), who chairs the House Ways and Means Committee, told Yonhap News Agency.He was attending a reception to celebrate the passage of the FTA in the U.S. last
Seoul toughens disciplinary actions against diplomats

Nov 3, 2011

The foreign ministry has decided to toughen up disciplinary measures against its diplomats overseas who conduct themselves without regard for good manners or moral standards, officials said Thursday. The move came after two senior diplomats were summoned home in the past month for behaving disorderly under the influence of alcohol in two separate incidents: one at a public dinner and one involving allegations of drunk driving. “Diplomats overseas must keep their dignity and prestige no matter wh