Kazakhstan is looking for South Korea’s capital markets to position the country as a gateway to Central Asia for Korean investors, said Renat Bekturov, governor of the Astana International Financial Center, in an interview with The Korea Herald. The Korean market is one of the most advanced and liquid globally. And with blue-chip companies such as Samsung, the Korea Exchange ranks among the top five worldwide for initial public offering activity, Bekturov noted. He hopes to build institutional l

UNESCO has the potential to amplify cultural legacies of both Korea and Egypt, leveraging them as models of soft power and global cultural engagement, according to Khaled El-Enany, Egypt’s former Minister of Tourism and Antiquities and a candidate for UNESCO director-general for the 2025–2029 term. “The model developed by the Republic of Korea is remarkable, and I want to acknowledge its success,” El-Enany said in an interview with The Korea Herald during his visit to Seoul. “Hallyu is not just

Azerbaijan is keen for industrial cooperation with South Korea and is inviting Korean manufacturers to invest in the Alat Free Economic Zone, said Valeh Alasgarov, Chairman of the AFEZ Authority, in an interview with The Korea Herald. Alasgarov was in Seoul to showcase AFEZ’s legal framework, fiscal and non-fiscal incentives and strategic location as a gateway to European, Middle Eastern and Central Asian markets. “We are looking for Korean manufacturers that specialize in high-value-added and e

Hungary is showcasing Rubik’s Cube to the Korean public through the "Rubik 80/50: Fifty Years of Magic” exhibition from May 29 to August 12. Speaking at the opening of the exhibition, Hungarian Ambassador to Korea Istvan Szerdahelyi said that the Rubik’s Cube is more than a clever toy: it is part of Hungary’s cultural heritage — a symbol of creativity, curiosity and the power of human imagination. “For half a century, it has captured the hearts and minds of millions around the globe," Szerdahely

The Embassy of the Czech Republic and Seocho District Office in southern Seoul inaugurated Vaclav Havel’s Place along the Yangjae Stream on May 26 , showing the values of Czech-Korean democracy and friendship. The symbolic space features a bench honoring Vaclav Havel, the first president of the Czech Republic, known as a playwright and pro-democracy leader. Sharing a press release with The Korea Herald, Czech Ambassador to Korea Ivan Jancarek shared joy at seeing the project’s realization. “Now

British diplomat Gareth Weir will take the stage at TEDxSeoul on June 28 to discuss global interconnectivity, climate change and geopolitics. Speaking with The Korea Herald ahead of the event, Weir, who serves as deputy ambassador at the British Embassy in Seoul, underscored the value of TEDx for dialogue, breaking silos and engaging citizens. “We’ve partnered with TEDx a couple of times now,” said Weir. “We did some work on climate change, including hosting events at the residence. For us, TEDx

Korea Herald correspondent TASHKENT, Uzbekistan -- Uzbekistan’s President Shavkat Mirziyoyev on Tuesday laid out a roadmap to raise the country’s GDP to $200 billion by 2030. With an emphasis on structural reforms, digital transformation and a sustainable energy transition, the fourth edition of the Tashkent International Investment Forum was held to discuss Central Asia's growing appeal based on a modernization strategy centered on technological innovation. The forum drew about 7,500 delegates

Georgia wants more Korean tourists and businesses, said Maia Omiadze, head of the Georgian National Tourism Administration, in an interaction with The Korea Herald on Wednesday. Omiadze is in Seoul leading a high-level Georgian delegation to South Korea from June 3 to June 9. She says that tourism is not just economic activity for Georgia, but also a point of cultural pride. “A guest is a gift from God in Georgia,” she said, quoting a Georgian saying. “We treat tourists not just as business oppo

Thailand officially opened a new consular office in Seoul on Wednesday. Inaugurating the office, Thai Ambassador to Korea Tanee Sangrat underlined that the Thai Embassy in Korea currently serve a Thai community of approximately 200,000 people and foreigners in Korea. According to Ambassador Sangrat, Thailand's consular office in Korea is among the busiest globally, serving around 400 visitors each day. "Current consular facilities have long been insufficient to meet this growing demand," acknowl

The Indian government urged South Korean support in the fight against terrorism Monday. Calling South Korea to take a firm stand against terrorism and support India’s position at multilateral forums such as the United Nations Security Council and the Financial Action Task Force (FATF), an all-party Indian parliamentary delegation underlined strategic importance of India-South Korea ties and appealed to deepen cooperation with India on regional security and global peace initiatives. The delegatio

The Embassy of Azerbaijan in Seoul commemorated the 107th anniversary of Azerbaijan’s independence, highlighting ties with South Korea on Tuesday. The annual event commemorates the establishment of the Azerbaijan Democratic Republic on May 28, 1918, which ended nearly two centuries of Iranian and Russian rule and marked the restoration of Azerbaijan's statehood. “On 28 May 1918, Azerbaijani people not only gained their independence but also paved their way into the future with democracy, parliam

Italian Ambassador to Korea Emilia Gatto said she has been focusing on people-to-people diplomacy and space tech cooperation with South Korea, in an interview with The Korea Herald. The interview took place ahead of Italian Republic Day, which is celebrated on June 2 to mark the 1946 referendum in which Italians voted to become a republic. “Two institutional frameworks — parliamentary and territorial — are where we should focus our (Italian and Korean) projects in culture, science and business a

Kazakhstan’s SCAT Airlines launched direct flights between Incheon and Shymkent, the third-largest city of the Central Asian nation, Thursday. At the launch ceremony, the Kazakh Embassy in Seoul said that the new route will operate twice a week using Boeing 737 Max aircraft, alongside 13 existing weekly flights between Kazakhstan and Korea. Speaking in an interview with The Korea Herald, SCAT Korea President Ahn Byung-chul expressed optimism in the regional impact of the new route. “Central Asia

UAE Ambassador to South Korea, Abdulla Saif Al Nuaimi, reiterated sustainability and water diplomacy on Tuesday in Seoul. “In the United Arab Emirates, sustainability lies at the core of our national development agenda,” said Al Nuaimi during an event co-hosted by the UAE Embassy in Seoul and the Corea Image Communication Institute. He noted that sustainability offers a "timely and strategic opportunity" for the UAE and Korea, highlighting the UAE’s commitment to achieving net-zero emissions by

GWACHEON, Gyeonggi Province — The Justice Ministry reaffirmed social integration and multicultural harmony, marking the 18th Together Day on Tuesday. Together Day, which falls on May 20, celebrates efforts to build a society where Koreans and foreign nationals respect each other’s cultures and traditions. It was officially designated in 2008 under Article 19 of the Framework Act on Treatment of Foreigners Residing in the Republic of Korea. “Korea is now, in every sense, a multicultural society.