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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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,

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

The Costa Rican government promotes its foreign policy of environmental democracy as a main pillar of regional cooperation under the framework of the Organization of American States, according to its embassy in Seoul. On Wednesday, Costa Rican Vice Foreign Minister Lorena Aguilar Revelo participated in the OAS extraordinary session in Washington -- the multilateral institution’s headquarters -- where participants discussed ties between human rights and the environment as advocated by the Escazu

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