The Korea Herald

History of American rock ’n’ roll offers vision for K-pop’s future

Dec 28, 2015

A former Korean journalist has published a book that traces the holy grails of rock ‘n’ roll based on his journey across the musical heartlands of the U.S.“In Search of Rock ‘n’ Roll Heritage: American Rock Music Landmarks” is a travelogue highlighting the cultural and economic power of museums, monuments and memorials. The book was written by Cho Hyun-jin, a distinguished professor at Kookmin University and former journalist for YTN, Arirang TV and Billboard magazine, who is also credited with
EU lauds Paris climate deal

Dec 28, 2015

The adoption of the historic agreement at the United Nations Climate Change Conference in Paris on Dec. 12 was an “unprecedented political victory” and “turning point” toward sustainable international development, the French Embassy announced last week. Publicizing a statement from the French Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Development, the diplomatic mission stressed that the legally binding accord among 195 participating nations ― to cap global warming at 2 degrees Celsius above
Syrian student on mission to help refugees

Dec 28, 2015

When the world mourned over dead Syrian toddler Aylan Kurdi, who washed up on a Turkish beach in early September, one Syrian man was not tormented. He had lost three children in an air strike some time before. “The boy looked like a sleeping angel. I wish my children had died like that,” the grief-stricken father told Abdul Wahab Almohammad Agha, the director of humanitarian organization Help Syria, at a refugee camp in Jordan in September. “Aylan’s father is a lucky guy compared to me. I died e
Korea to offer $1.5 million to 3 African nations

Dec 23, 2015

South Korea has decided to provide three African countries with $1.5 million in humanitarian assistance, the Foreign Ministry said Wednesday, as Seoul is aggressively pushing for "humanitarian diplomacy."South Korea plans to offer $500,000 each to the Central African Republic, Somalia, and the Democratic Republic of the Congo.The three have long suffered severe humanitarian crises due to civil war, poor security and governance and climate change, said the ministry.There are more than 6 million r
FM Yun expects 'wise' court ruling on Korea-Japan ties

Dec 23, 2015

Foreign Minister Yun Byung-se expressed hope Wednesday for a "wise" verdict by the Constitutional Court, just hours before its ruling on a 1965 deal between South Korea and Japan.The court is scheduled to deliver a verdict later in the day on whether or not the bilateral Claims Settlement Agreement is constitutional.Japan claims that the deal, signed to normalize their diplomatic relations, settled all issues of compensation to victims of forced labor during Japan's colonial rule of Korea from 1
Korea, Israel to provide $4 mln in R&D funding to SMEs

Dec 21, 2015

South Korea and Israel will provide $4 million in research funds to small and medium enterprises in 2016 to promote close economic cooperation, the government said Monday.The Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy said Seoul and Tel Aviv will each foot $2 million to support joint projects by SMEs from the two countries.The money will be used in areas like electronics, machinery, biotech and renewable energy. Companies picked can expect upwards to three years of support with maximum funding set a
U.S. should more forcefully intervene in resolving Seoul-Tokyo tensions: expert

Dec 21, 2015

The United States should intervene more forcefully in improving relations between South Korea and Japan, an American expert said, stressing that tensions between the two key allies are hindering the U.S.'s ability to deal with North Korea, China and other challenges.Mark Manyin, an Asian affairs specialist at the U.S. Congressional Research Service, made the point in a paper to the Council on Foreign Relations, arguing that forceful intervention carries risks, but the "costs of nonintervention a
Denmark marks 150 years since C. Nielsen’s birth

Dec 20, 2015

The Danish Embassy teamed up with communications company Jabra to hold a concert Tuesday to mark the 150th birth anniversary of Danish composer Carl Nielsen. The event at the Seoul National University Museum of Art attracted 150 guests from diplomatic missions, cultural industries, educational institutions and business communities, part of worldwide performances celebrating the occasion. Danish-Korean group “Trio con Brio Copenhagen” ― comprised of Korean sisters, violinist Hong Soo-jin and cell
French language gets boost in Korea

Dec 20, 2015

The International Organization of the Francophonie (OIF), an agency dedicated to popularizing French language and culture worldwide, launched a support group in Seoul last week to widen collaboration with Korea.The Council of Promotion of Francophonie in Korea is comprised of diplomats with networks in Tokyo, Hanoi, Bangkok and Jakarta. The agency will support cultural events, academic conferences and business partnerships, meeting once or twice a year.“We are here to celebrate Francophonie’s es
Tunisian Embassy celebrates quartet’s Nobel Peace Prize

Dec 20, 2015

The Tunisian Embassy on Tuesday held a reception to commemorate the awarding of this year’s Nobel Peace Prize to the Tunisian National Dialogue Quartet, a coalition of unionists, employers, lawyers and human rights activists that brokered peace and forestalled a civil war.The quartet is credited with preventing violence in 2013, following the Jasmine Revolution that overthrew longtime president Zine El Abidine Ben Ali and ended six decades of dictatorship. By facilitating compromise between dive
Indonesia honors Korean Army general

Dec 20, 2015

The Indonesian Embassy on Friday awarded a former Korean military chief for his contributions to strengthening the bilateral alliance and Indonesia’s defense capacity. Former ROK Army Chief of Staff Kim Yo-han was awarded the Order of Service Medal, an honor bestowed to individuals who made distinguished achievements benefiting the Indonesian government or military. The medal is conferred by Indonesian President Joko Widodo. “The Indonesian government and army express deep gratitude to Gen. Kim
Kazakhstan, Korea deepen partnership

Dec 20, 2015

The Kazakh Embassy on Tuesday marked the country’s founding on Dec. 16, 1991, and burgeoning ties with Korea at a reception in Seoul that featured photographs of the country’s remotest regions. The pictures, part of the exhibition “Undiscovered Kazakhstan,” were selected by the Foundation of the First President of Kazakhstan, a public organization supporting young scientists, artists, students and researchers. “Within a span of 24 years, Kazakhstan and Korea pushed our close relations to a compr
Lippert back to forum nine months after being attacked

Dec 18, 2015

Mark Lippert, the U.S. ambassador to South Korea, rejoined a forum on inter-Korean reconciliation Friday, nine months after he suffered a knife attack.In March, he was attacked by a knife-wielding man during a breakfast function in downtown Seoul hosted by the Korean Council for Reconciliation and Cooperation. He sustained face and arm injuries that needed 80 stitches.The council invited the envoy back to its forum, though it did not open its forum to the media.Around 60 members of the pro-unifi
Poland awaits investment as Europe’s transport hub

Dec 14, 2015

Poland is modernizing its roads, railways, airports and seaports to be a “pan-European” transportation hub. The Central European powerhouse is well positioned for the European Union’s infrastructure policy ― the Trans-European Transport Network ― unveiled by the European Commission in January last year, aimed at boosting East-West and North-South linkages across the continent. Covering both passengers and freight, the ambitious initiative will close transport capacities between 28 member states,
Keys to happiness in Denmark

Dec 14, 2015

The United Nation’s World Happiness Report listed Denmark as the world’s happiest nation in 2013 and 2014, while it came in at third place behind Switzerland and Iceland this year. When Koreans think of the Nordic nation, they conjure up ideas of work-life balance, plentiful welfare and fancy lifestyles, an egalitarian utopia far from “Hell Joseon,” a phrase Korean youth have recently used to describe Korea’s structural malaise. In the same report, Korea was ranked 47th of 158 countries for this