“We consider Costa Rica an element of stability in a complex region, a country built on the values of cooperation, multilateralism and sustainable development.”

“The energy transition should be looked at not only from an economic standpoint, but also a technological standpoint, because some 40 to 50 percent of decarbonization can be achieved by increasing energy efficiency.”

“I was impressed by Ambassador Stephan Auer’s remark that the key to its reunification was German people’s willingness to unify and their aspiration for peace and prosperity.”

British Secretary of State for International Trade Liam Fox said that Britain and Korea could become more prosperous after Brexit by liberalizing and “unlocking” wealth in the two countries’ services industries. The Conservative Party politician is an arch-Brexiteer, and has consistently made the case that Britain’s future prosperity lies beyond being part of the European Union in engaging Asia’s booming economic powerhouses. “I have been speaking to companies that operate in the Korean market,

President Moon Jae-in said Gandhi had inspired Korean independence fighters against Japanese colonial rule as well as last year’s candlelight demonstrations against impeached President Park Geun-hye.

As a gay person living in Ireland in the 1980s, life was difficult for Rory O’Neill, who is now the country’s foremost drag queen and LGBTI rights activist. Over the past 35 years, however, Ireland, thought of as a traditionally conservative Catholic nation, has undergone profound transformations, so much so that the country legalized same-sex marriage in 2015. Ireland’s experience of toleration of minorities, including lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and intersex people, has made the countr

Nepal is progressing economically and democratically following the overthrow of monarchy and transformation into a republican state in 2008, according to the country’s top envoy to Korea. Nepalese Ambassador Arjun Jung Bahadur Singh said that the country has moved on to an era of “peace, stability and prosperity” after last year’s successful federal, provincial and local elections. “After our historic people’s movement of 2006 that overthrew the monarchy, Nepal became a federal republic in May 2

On the back of a bilateral free trade agreement that entered into force in 2004, Chile and South Korea are enhancing two-way trade and investment in comprehensive areas and diversifying their export products, Chile’s top envoy to Korea said during a National Day reception on Sept. 18. The free trade accord -- the first signed by Chile with an Asian country -- has increased bilateral trade at an average of 10 percent a year over the last 15 years, said Chilean Ambassador to Korea Fernando Danus d

Participants perform traditional music at the Ganesh Chaturthi festival at Seoul National University on Sept. 16. (Rohidas Arote)Indian communities in Korea on Sept. 16 celebrated Ganesh Chaturthi, the birthday of Hindu god Ganesha and India’s landmark festival, at Seoul National University. Some 400 Indians, Koreans and international participants from various parts of the country joined in the jubilant honoring of the elephant-headed deity associated with intelligence, knowledge, wisdom and pro

Seongsan Ilchulbong on Jeju Island (Visit Jeju)The ASEAN-Korea Center and United Nations Institute for Training and Research CIFAL Jeju will jointly organize a workshop for sustainable tourism and natural heritage promotion from Wednesday to Friday at the Jeju International Convention Center.International experts will deliver lectures on developing sustainable tourism programs to industry professionals from both the public and private sectors across the 10 member states of the Association of Sou

French Ambassador to Korea Fabien Penone (second from left) poses with participants at the Sports Festival's concluding reception at the embassy on Friday.(French Embassy)The Embassy of France in Seoul, supported by the French Ministry of Sports, helped host the first Festival of Sports in Korea from Sept. 14-27. During the celebration, a series of sports and outdoor events were organized throughout the country, including petanque, basketball, soccer, futsal, rugby and hiking, among other sports

Chinese Ambassador to Seoul Qiu Guohong said Friday that the two countries have fully restored trust in their relationship following President Moon Jae-in's state visit to Beijing last year.During his courtesy visit to Lee Hae-chan, chairman of South Korea's ruling Democratic Party, he also said both countries have maintained their strategic communication channels on safeguarding peace and security on the Korean Peninsula. Lee Hae-chan (L), chairman of South Korea`s ruling Democratic Party, shak

Ukraine is progressing steadily by reforming its economy and aligning itself closer to the European Union, the country’s top envoy to Korea said, noting the Eastern European nation looks to engage South Korea for a future-oriented partnership. “Our country, with our new armed forces, is emerging stronger from its conflict with Russia, our economy is boosted by modernization reforms and the association agreement with the European Union, and our society is aware of its goals and existential choice

Sir Simon McDonald, the UK permanent undersecretary and head of the diplomatic service (Yonhap)With less than 200 days to Brexit on March 29, 2019, the United Kingdom is busy hammering out the terms of its separation from the European Union, and the possibility of a “no deal” serves no one’s interest, the UK’s top career diplomat said last week. In a press meeting with local journalists, Sir Simon McDonald, the UK’s permanent undersecretary and head of the diplomatic service, stressed that Brita

Despite no free trade agreement, Korea is Mexico’s sixth-largest trade partner, and the two economies had more than $15 billion of bilateral trade last year. That is about to get an even further boost when they enter into a free trade agreement and Seoul joins the Pacific Alliance of Chile, Colombia, Peru and Mexico as an associate member state, according to Mexico’s top envoy to Korea. “Last year was full of challenges, but also of unique opportunities. We have stood for the values that have gi