The ASEAN-Korea Center last week held a seminar to explore opportunities and challenges in ecotourism in Southeast Asia, a region that aims to foster sustainable and inclusive travel.Part of the second ASEAN-Korea Tourism Development Workshop, the venue gathered over 100 representatives from the government, private sector and academia to discuss recent trends and possibilities in the industry. The Association of Southeast Asian Nations is promoting a form of tourism environmentally nondestructiv

The European Union delegation held a symposium last week to launch the “EU Gateway to Korea” program, aimed at harnessing innovative partnerships between European and Korean enterprises. Funded by the 28-member supranational body, business missions comprised of small and-medium-sized enterprises will visit Korea from 2016 to 2020. They cover technologies in the five industries of green energy, health care and medical, water and environment, food and beverage and construction and building. Seekin

The “Enzis” -- landmark furniture located in Vienna’s Museums Quartiers, representing Austria’s functional and modern design -- are now available at Seoul’s Dongdaemun Design Plaza. Donated by the Austrian National Tourist Office and the Vienna Tourist Board, 12 of the turquoise, sui generis monuments were unveiled at the DDP on Thursday. The unveiling took place during the opening ceremony for “Hello Austria! Hello Vienna,” a three-day event that featured live jazz and dance performance, as wel

Following the lifting of international sanctions on Iran’s nuclear program, fresh opportunities have dawned across the country’s vast, rising economy, opening doors to long-term investments, according to the top Iranian envoy to Korea. In an interview with The Korea Herald, Iranian Ambassador Hassan Taherian stressed that in order to make the most out of the second-largest market in the Middle East and North Africa region, Korean companies should have a long-term vision for business engagement.

The United States is considering additional sanctions on North Korea, State Department deputy spokesman Mark Toner said, stressing the importance of putting pressure on Pyongyang to end its nuclear program. Department deputy spokesman Mark Toner“Sanctions are only as strong as they are implemented, and so we really are urging our partners in the region to implement, to the fullest extent possible, those sanctions against North Korea in the hope that they will convince the North Korean regime to

The Arab Film Festival wrapped up its fifth show in Korea last week, exposing the unfaltering spirit of democracy and solidarity in the Middle East and North Africa -- regions that have been marred by dictatorship and violence.“Madame Courage” by Algerian director Merzak Allouache shed light on troubled teenager Omar, who ekes out his living as a street thief in the suburb of Mostaganem. His home is a ramshackle hut that he shares with his mother -- who watches television programs laden with ext

In the land of Ceylon tea, Sri Lanka, Merrill J. Fernando takes a humble approach to cultivating and selling his herbal product. The 86-year-old founder and chairman of MJF Group has built a successful enterprise by globalizing Ceylon tea, and he channels the profits back to his country. “Tea was a blessed divine herb in China, but through global business was turned into a material commodity by profit-driven companies,” he told The Korea Herald last week. “I take pride in bringing integrity, fre

 The Turkish Embassy and the Korean Food Foundation jointly organized an exhibition last week, celebrating the gastronomic and wearable traditions of both countries. At the opening ceremony in Seoul on Thursday, traditional Turkish foods, including meatballs wrapped in eggplant and bell peppers, “yaprak salma” (vine leaves stuffed with rice), “borek” (spinach rolls), as well as Turkish alcoholic beverage “yeni raki” were showcased. Also on display were traditional embroideries by Korean designer

Celebrating 130 years of diplomatic relations, French and Korean institutions jointly held a seminar last week to explore ways of cultivating the financial technology industry, known as fintech. Part of “La French Tech” initiative -- a French national program to nurture start-ups worldwide -- the event at InterContinental Seoul Coex on May 30 was hosted by the Korean Fintech Center and the French Embassy. It drew some 250 participants, including financial regulators, businesspeople and experts f