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

Diplomatic Circuit Oct. 1, 2018

Emile Bourdartet, a French engineer who came to Korea in 1900 to help construct railways and mines, said of Seoul Fortress Wall, “It is possible to walk the whole length of this wall in a single day. It is a very interesting walkway for those skilled at sauntering and hiking.”He was writing about his experiences of Korea in “The Last Breath of the Korean Empire,” which became France’s most widely read book about the land of the morning calm after it was published in 1904. “The jaunt offers a sce

Travel Sept. 27, 2018

During a trekking tour of North Korea’s Paektusan highlands in August, Roger Shepherd and his team of international travelers hobnobbed with North Korean guides -- hiking, pitching tents, making campfires, cooking and eating together. Two Australian women and two Norwegian men traveled with Shepherd, a Kiwi professional hiker and travel writer, on their maiden trip to the Korean Peninsula’s tallest mountain, 2,750 meters above sea level, considered the sacred cradle of the Korean people since ti

Travel Sept. 20, 2018

As the two Koreas join hands to forge lasting peace on the peninsula, achieving security and peace is impossible without dialogue, said former Romanian President Emil Constantinescu in Seoul, urging the two sides to communicate about how the people can take ownership of society.“It is impossible to achieve peace without dialogue. It’s important for the two leaders of North and South Korea to sit down at a table and communicate,” he said during a lecture titled “Korean Peninsula’s Peace and Visio

Foreign Affairs Sept. 20, 2018

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

Diplomatic Circuit Sept. 17, 2018

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

Diplomatic Circuit Sept. 17, 2018

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

Diplomatic Circuit Sept. 17, 2018

With France’s largest container harbor, a picturesque beach promenade, world-class amenities and bucolic scenery that formed the backdrops of impressionist paintings, Le Havre has all the ingredients for a hedonistic seaside life.The city is located on the bank of the Seine Estuary in the Normandy region of northwestern France. In recent years, it has been an apposite recipient of decentralization from Paris, a move intended to strengthen the city’s global competitiveness and its democratic gove

Diplomatic Circuit Sept. 17, 2018

Herald Design Forum 2018 came to a close Saturday, sharing the world’s most daring, innovative ideas in design and inspiring participants with state-of-the-art elucidation and imagination, just as it has done over the past seven years.Under the theme “Designing Futures,” Asia’s leading design conference brought together 15 international pioneers who spoke about how design has been changing the modus operandi and boundaries of their fields in art, architecture, fashion, industrial design, curatio

Arts & Design Sept. 16, 2018

Instead of using design to provide solutions to problems, designers increasingly ask questions about parameters of their work and push the frontiers of new technologies and human behaviors, according to Deyan Sudjic, the director of the Design Museum in London.“Design and designers are at a time when they are more questioning rather than answering, such as what can design do for our lives and what kind of changes it would bring,” he said during a lecture titled, “How Fast Can We Go? The Future o

Arts & Design Sept. 16, 2018

Under Japanese architect Junya Ishigami’s poetic imagination, architectural designs are seamlessly fused into nature and resemble hypnotic visions of fairytales, or some earthy scenes out of film “Avatar.”“Through my architecture, I try to create not just a new space, but a new landscape,” he said at the Herald Design Forum 2018 held at Dongdaemun Design Plaza in Seoul on Saturday. Junya Ishigami speaks at the Herald Design Forum 2018 held at Dongdaemun Design Plaza in Seoul on Saturday. (Park H

Arts & Design Sept. 16, 2018

France and Korea can increase cooperation in developing markets in Africa, Southeast Asia and potentially North Korea, said David-Pierre Jalicon, the chairman of the French Korean Chamber of Commerce and Industry, adding that the two middle powers should collaborate strategically for their long-term economic benefit. “France has always favored multilateralism,” he said during an informal meeting with Herald Corp. CEO Kwon Chung-won last week at the company headquarters in Seoul. “Korea has tradi

Diplomatic Circuit Sept. 10, 2018

The International Vaccine Institute on Sept. 4 hosted foreign diplomats at its headquarters in Seoul and briefed them about its latest international projects and accomplishments.The institute also gave a tour of its laboratories to the envoys, who represent member states of the organization, which exclusively develops new vaccines to protect the world’s poorest people, especially children in developing countries. The meeting coincided with the 18th International Vaccinology Course, a weeklong ev

Diplomatic Circuit Sept. 10, 2018

Latvia will host the Baltic Sea region’s first international conference on fifth-generation wireless technology in Riga from Sept. 27-28, according to the Latvian Embassy in Seoul. The Baltic Sea Region 5G Ecosystem Forum, also called 5G Techritory, will gather more than 1,000 participants from around the world, marking this year’s centenary anniversary of independence of Baltic states Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania.As the world’s premier event on 5G, the forum will discuss business models and op

Diplomatic Circuit Sept. 10, 2018

Across Australia’s vast territory, wine, dairy products, wheat, barley, beef and mutton are produced under world-leading sustainable practices and stringent quarantine policies. The country’s low population density also ensures that these products are free from the bulk of agricultural pests, diseases and contaminants.The nation’s popular wines were featured at the Australian Wine Grand Tasting 2018 event at Le Meridien Hotel in Seoul on Thursday. The annual event was hosted by the Australian Tr

Diplomatic Circuit Sept. 10, 2018