Video shot and edited by Kim So-mee SUNCHEON, South Jeolla Province -- Some 200 participants representing South Korea and the 10 member countries of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations gathered at the lobby of Paradise Hotel, Busan, in the early morning of Thursday beaming with excitement about the second day of the three-day train trip across the country ahead of the ASEAN-Korea special summit in November.After a jam-packed day of a six-hour train ride, a visit to the temple Bulguksa, wh

The late anti-apartheid activist and Nobel laureate Nelson Mandela’s daughter Zenani Mandela-Dlamini has been appointed South Africa’s ambassador to South Korea, the Foreign Ministry said Thursday.Arriving in Korea on Oct. 2, she visited the ministry on Thursday to hold meetings with officials here.In her previous posts, she served as the South African ambassador to Argentina for five years from 2012, and then was appointed as high commissioner in Mauritius.“I am really happy a

BUSAN -- Ahead of the highly anticipated summit in Busan next month between the leaders of South Korea and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations, top officials from participating countries gathered in the southern port city Wednesday and voiced high expectations for the future of the relationship between South Korea and the ASEAN nations.South Korean Ambassador to ASEAN Lim Sung-nam, ASEAN-Korea Center Secretary-General Lee Hyuk, Busan Mayor Oh Keo-don and Myanmar Ambassador to South Korea

Colombia’s Minister of Trade, Industry and Tourism Jose Manuel Restrepo said the country is keen to bolster South Korea-bound exports, stressing now is the time to reshape bilateral trade between the two nations. “Exports from Colombia (to Korea) are (valued at) $600 million. The number of exporters (from Colombia) is growing. On the other side, we have imports of Korea at around $800 million. This means the balance is against Colombia. But that balance improving,” Colombian Mi

Ambassador Auer says dialogue was key to German unification

The International Vaccine Institute, an international organization based in Seoul, held a forum on its 22nd anniversary where the participants exchanged ideas on ways to boost global collaboration on research and development on vaccines and their delivery.“I hope for greater cooperation among IVI members and non-IVI members to expedite research and development, and distribution of vaccines,” International Vaccine Institute Director General Jerome Kim said in his welcoming speech.Abou

Top officials from ASEAN countries and South Korea will hop on a train to travel across the country alongside citizens of the participating countries. The event, marking the 30th anniversary of ASEAN-Korea dialogue, also aims to promote next month’s ASEAN-Korea summit in Busan, the organizers said Monday.“The program aims to promote people-centered connectivity between ASEAN and Korea under the overarching theme of People, Prosperity, and Peace. … The journey will be featuring

Amid South Korea’s strengthened economic relations with Poland, the European country is seeking to bolster cooperation in nuclear energy, defense and cybersecurity, Polish top envoy said.“South Korea is now our main economic partner in Asia. We are talking of increasing cooperation with Korean companies,” Polish Foreign Minister Jacek Czaputowicz told The Korea Herald in an exclusive interview in Seoul.“There is also potential (to cooperate in) in nuclear energy. Of cours

The Chilean Navy’s training ship Esmeralda visited the Republic of Korea from Friday to Tuesday. This occasion constituted a source of personal satisfaction for me, because it brought back memories that stretch back in time along with my diplomatic career. I had received the vessel and its crew in different capacities in New York (1986), Wellington (1993), Singapore (1995), Bali (2002), Singapore again in 2012 and Busan in 2016. I often say that this magnificent ship has been present in so

Saudi Arabia will issue travel visas for South Koreans and citizens of 48 other countries as part of its Vision 2030, the Saudi Embassy in Seoul said.The visa issuance starting Sept. 27 comes amid a series of decisions to ease strict laws and regulations in one of the most conservative countries in the Middle East.“Saudi Arabia is now opening its doors to international tourists. We are expecting that the tourists from all around the world can enjoy the UNESCO World Heritage Sites, the Red

The French Korean Chamber of Commerce and Industry and newly appointed French Ambassador to South Korea Philippe Lefort held a networking event for members of the FKCCI, highlighting the upcoming French-Korean tech summit, the FKCCI said. The event, the “FKCCI Networking Evening With the New French Ambassador to Korea,” took place Oct. 2 in central Seoul with roughly 80 FKCCI members and related officials in attendance.Its purpose was to give the French business community here a

Ambassador Ranganathan says this year’s event pays tribute to 150th anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi’s birth

The Korea Foundation, a nonprofit organization under the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, has opened an office in Jakarta, marking its eighth overseas office aimed at promoting public diplomacy.The office in Indonesia will function as a hub for public diplomacy targeting Southeast Asian countries as part of the Moon Jae-in administration’s New Southern Policy. “Indonesia has a population of 260 million people, standing as the world’s fourth most populous country. It is the lar

British community-dance professional Diane Amans led a dance workshop for seniors in Yecheon, North Gyeongsang Province, at the invitation of the British Council in Korea. The event held Sept. 25 to Oct. 2 aimed to promote healthy and “creative aging” through the arts as well as to foster arts programs here tailored for the older generation.“The British Council in Korea has held a number of arts projects by inviting UK professionals to share their inclusive approaches to arts.

Corea Image Communication Institution President Choi Jung-wha (first row, third from left), Russian Ambassador to South Korea Andrey Kulik (second row, fourth from left) and Singaporean Ambassador to South Korea Eric Teo (second row, sixth from left) pose at the Korea CQ forum, where some 25 participants learned about and tasted products made by traditional Korean beef jerky brand Jungyookpo. The event, hosted by CICI, was held Sept. 24 at SMT House in southern Seoul. (CICI)