Participants pose at a celebratory event marking the 10th anniversary of a multicultural music broadcast program by Woongjin Foundation. In the photo (from left, top) are National Academy of Sciences member Kim Do-han; Thai Ambassador Singtong Lapisatepun; Philippine Ambassador Raul S. Hernandez; Woongjin Foundation Chairman Shin Hyon-ung; Vietnamese Ambassador Nguyen Vu Tu; and Digital Skynet President Kim Choong-hyun. (Woongjin Foundation)The Woongjin Foundation, a nonprofit organization estab

Social Affairs Sept. 5, 2018

On Feb. 28, the National Unity Government of Afghanistan hosted a landmark conference called the Kabul Peace Process aimed at starting a process of Afghanistan-led peace and reconciliation.Representatives of 30 countries, including South Korea, as well as regional and international organizations including the United Nations and the North Atlantic Treaty Organization, attended the event and gave support to our government.The government of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan is seeking lasting pea

Diplomatic Circuit Sept. 3, 2018

With a combined gross domestic product of over $20 trillion -- nearly one-quarter of the global economy -- the economies of China, Japan and South Korea have colossal potential for synergy, innovation and growth once systematically integrated, economists have said for decades. Beijing, Seoul and Tokyo -- together “Beseto” -- are negotiating a trilateral free trade agreement, with the 13th round of negotiations held in Seoul from March 22-23 over trade in goods and services, investment, telecommu

Diplomatic Circuit Sept. 3, 2018

Indonesian Ambassador to Korea Umar Hadi on Aug. 26 conferred plaques of appreciation to two Korean companies that employ Indonesians here. Buheung System and DK&D received awards following a rigorous selection process by a panel of judges comprising Indonesians in Korea and embassy staff, according to the diplomatic mission. The companies provided Indonesians the same wage as Koreans, accommodations and other facilities and holidays as specified by law. They also protected the workers’ conditio

Diplomatic Circuit Sept. 3, 2018

Irish drag queen Rory O’Neill, aka Panti Bliss (Conor Horgan)Irish drag queen Rory O’Neill, aka Panti Bliss, will visit Korea in early October to discuss the campaign for lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and intersex people in Ireland, including the 2015 referendum on marriage equality and related challenges in Ireland and around the world, according to the Embassy of Ireland in Seoul. O’Neill is considered Ireland’s foremost drag queen. From 1996 through 2012, O’Neill was the hostess of the

Diplomatic Circuit Sept. 3, 2018

In 1991, Indian filmmaker, art historian and photographer Benoy K. Behl became the first person to take pictures of Buddhist paintings inside the Ajanta Caves, a UNESCO World Heritage Site in the Maharashtra state of India.The experience had a profound impact on him, he told The Korea Herald in an interview, adding he came out of the dark caves enlightened by what he saw.“There’s a world of compassion contained in this ancient art. I spent weeks in these caves, exposed to a world of compassion t

Culture Aug. 30, 2018

NEW YORK -- What makes New York City the talk of the town the world over? A onetime student of urban planning, I am always keen to experience the myriad wonders of New York. As a Seoulite, I know the South Korean capital tries hard to emulate many of the US city’s successes. Those include spacious parks, world-class amenities, eco-friendly public transportation and gentrified streets and businesses, not to mention a wide array of cultural festivals. Seoul has also sought the kind of grassroots,

Travel Aug. 30, 2018

Following the success of the 2018 PyeongChang Winter Games, global interest in South Korea has continued to surge, ranging from K-pop and TV dramas to language, food and fashion. At the forefront of the country’s worldwide engagement is the Corea Image Communication Institute, a nonprofit public diplomacy organization registered under the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. It has organized a diverse range of forums, networking functions and cultural events to promote Korea since 2003. In 2010, when Se

Culture Aug. 29, 2018

The Korea Foundation, working in partnership with the Embassy of Kazakhstan in Korea, has organized a photo exhibition that illuminates the urban and natural wonders of the Central Asian giant at KF Gallery in Seoul.The event, which runs through Saturday, is organized in collaboration with Kazakhstan’s Foundation of the First President. For the second time here, it shows photographs of the country’s capital Astana and natural landscapes by Kazakhstani photographers, continuing from previous show

Diplomatic Circuit Aug. 27, 2018

The ASEAN-Korea Center organized a tourism capacity-building workshop in the Philippines’ archipelagic province of Palawan on Friday, gathering industry experts to discuss raising tourism competitiveness of the region replete with rare natural reserves. Some 100 Filipino and Korean professionals from both public and private sectors participated in the event held in the popular tourist region, home to pristine natural attractions, national parks as well as vibrant flora and fauna. They discussed

Diplomatic Circuit Aug. 27, 2018

As North Korea strives to reform its economy and lure foreign investments, Poland -- a former communist nation that has successfully transformed into a democracy and market economy -- can share its experience of transition into a rising economic heavyweight in Europe, said the country’s top envoy to Korea in an interview.“Everything that helped us leave communism was worthwhile,” Polish Ambassador Piotr Ostaszewski told The Korea Herald. “On the other hand, in 1989 there was no alternative. The

Diplomatic Circuit Aug. 27, 2018

The United Arab Emirates and Republic of Korea established diplomatic ties in 1980. This was followed by the opening of embassies in each other’s countries. Since then, the two nations have maintained vibrant cooperation in various fields. This was enhanced by exchanges of visits involving high-ranking government officials and trade delegations, who signed bilateral agreements to strengthen the ties. In 2009, the two countries took a step forward by elevating their relationship to a “strategic p

Diplomatic Circuit Aug. 20, 2018

Speaking at a public event on National Liberation Day in Seoul, South Korean President Moon Jae-in surprised many by making a reference to the European Coal and Steel Community, which was created by six European countries in 1951. It is not often that a Korean president publicly mentions the European institution as a model for inter-Korean reconciliation and cooperation. Moon, however, was spot on. Europe’s Coal and Steel Community, indeed, can be an ideal template for bringing about reconciliat

Diplomatic Circuit Aug. 20, 2018

Ten years ago, on the night of Aug. 7-8, 2008, the government of Georgia under former President Mikheil Saakashvili breached the agreement on a peaceful settlement of the Georgian-Ossetian conflict by launching a full-scale military operation against South Ossetia.Georgia’s aggression against Tskhinval, which has been universally recognized as a party to the conflict, had not been provoked in any way. Under the 1992 agreement signed between Russia and Georgia in Sochi, security in South Ossetia

Diplomatic Circuit Aug. 20, 2018