A new decade has dawned. Unprecedented challenges await Korea from an aging and shrinking population to accelerated warming of the peninsula. The Korea Herald has prepared a four-part series looking into some of the changes and challenges facing the nation in the 2020s. -- Ed.School classrooms and homes go empty in rural areas. Deaths greatly outnumber childbirths. The economy, once the region’s most dynamic, loses its vigor with fewer workers, fewer taxpayers and fewer consumers. This, ac

Omani Ambassador Mohamed Al Harthy received an honorary Seoul citizenship in recognition of his efforts to foster relations between the two countries, the Oman Embassy said Monday.Al Harthy started his term here in 2010 and currently serves key roles as the dean of the diplomatic corps and the president of the Korea-Arab Society. “Ambassador Al Harthy is known to have strong interest in Korean culture. He has made efforts in public diplomacy through a series of cultural, artistic events an

DHAKA, Bangladesh -- The hustle and bustle of Bangladesh, one of the fastest-growing economies worldwide, can be seen throughout the capital of Dhaka, where multiple infrastructure projects are underway, including highway construction projects.Having risen from one of the world’s least developed countries to a developing country in less than 50 years since its liberation from Pakistan, Bangladesh is well on its way to achieving its goal of becoming a middle-income country by 2021.“Th

KHULNA, Bangladesh -- Bombarded with mobile messages, emails and social media posts, an adventure in Mother Nature is a popular choice for many travelers seeking to escape.The Sundarbans, the largest mangrove forest in the world, is a destination where people can disconnect from technology.The Korea Herald had a chance to visit the Sundarbans between Dec. 19 and 21 as part of the Visit Bangladesh Program.The unique paradise lies on the delta of the Ganges, Brahmaputra and Meghna rivers on the Ba

Amid global awareness of the need to reduce reliance on fossil fuels, the Australian ambassador to Korea highlighted hydrogen as the next source of clean energy.“There is a global momentum to develop the hydrogen economy, and Korea has already positioned itself as a leader in hydrogen technology,” Australian Ambassador James Choi said.“Australia is looking to create international partnerships in this sector. We look forward to building on the strong existing cooperation between

The United Kingdom, one of the countries leading the world in artificial intelligence, is seeking to step up cooperation with industry leader South Korea for advancements in AI, officials said.“Whatever the outcome of the (UK) election, we can be confident that there will continue to be a powerful story to tell about AI in the UK,” British Ambassador to Korea Simon Smith said in his opening remarks, delivered in Korean at AI UK Conference 2019 at Seoul’s Dongdaemun Design Plaza

The Italian Trade Agency under the Italian Embassy in Korea has opened its first showroom in Seoul in a bid to promote Italian brands, the embassy said.High Street Italia, located in the trendy Garosugil neighborhood in southern Seoul, is a joint project between the Italian Embassy in Korea and the Italian National Tourist Board that aims to expose aspects of Italy to a wider Korean audience. “Incredible support and interest shown today is a very clear proof that Korean customers are open

The first Hungarian cultural center in Korea opened last week, coinciding with the 30th anniversary of diplomatic relations between South Korea and Hungary. The opening ceremony of the Hungarian Cultural Institute on Dec. 12 was attended by the Hungarian Minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade Peter Szijjarto, Deputy Minister and Ambassador for Public Diplomacy of Foreign Affairs Chang Jae-bok and Hungarian Ambassador to Korea Mozes Csoma among others. “It is our mission to provide various q

In the run up to Expo 2020 Dubai, Emirati Ambassador to South Korea Abdulla Saif Al Nuaimi said the event would boost bilateral relations as next year marks the 40th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic ties between the two countries.“I’m quite confident that Republic of Korea’s remarkable participation in the EXPO 2020 Dubai will reinforce the ‘special strategic partnership’ and enhance the bilateral exchanges in all fields between the two countries,&rdqu

After years of sweeping change in all corners of society, Egypt has embarked on a journey to rebuild the nation, opening doors to foreign entities to capitalize on state-of-the-art technology and reclaim its glory days as an economic hub.As part of efforts to do so, Egypt is wooing South Korean businesses and leading science and tech institutions, the top Egyptian diplomat said.“Quite frankly, my humble opinion is that we have such a huge amount of untapped potential in relationship betwee

The UAE Embassy in Seoul celebrated the 48th National Day and noted that bilateral cooperation between the both countries has increased considerably in the last decade from a strategic partnership in 2009 to a special strategic partnership last year, a top Emirati diplomat in Seoul said.“With regard to the bilateral relations with the friendly Republic of Korea, the ties witnessed significant progress over the past decade. … As a result, the existing fields of cooperation have expan

South Korea’s parliament should promptly pass an amendment on personal information protection to comply with EU regulations, European Union’s top diplomat in Seoul urged last week. The revised Personal Information Protection Act is one of three bills on big data regulations pending at the National Assembly.In May 2018, the EU implemented the General Data Protection Regulation stipulating stricter oversight to protection personal information of EU residents, fining companies that fail

Kuwait’s state-run Kuwait Direct Investment Promotion Authority and Citibank Korea jointly held the Korea-Kuwait Investment Forum last week to offer information for companies seeking to foray into the Middle East country.“Potential and current Korean companies there received critical information about the Kuwaiti market, regulations and laws, new business opportunities and successful case studies,” an official said. The forum was a part of KDIPA’s international roadshow a

Video shot and edited by Kim So-meeIn South Korea, France is known predominantly for its rich history, sophisticated culture and luxury brands. But take a deeper look into the history between the two countries, and traces of France can be found across South Korea’s core industries.In the digital era, Paris is seeking to bolster cooperation with Seoul in the field of technology and startups, the top French diplomat in Seoul said. “In France, I think we have missed the beginning of thi

South Korea and New Zealand have strong bilateral trade relations five years into the free trade agreement, said New Zealand Minister for Trade and Export Growth David Parker, according to the New Zealand Chamber of Commerce in Korea, also called the Kiwi Chamber. Parker delivered a keynote speech titled “Korea and New Zealand -- A Modern Partnership for Challenging Times” at the 2019 Year End Grand Hui on Nov 25. A “hui” is a traditional Maori social gathering.Parker emp

Pacific Alliance member countries in Seoul are set to open the first Pacific Alliance Film Festival in Seoul next week to promote their culture, society and history, embassies said Monday.The Embassies of Chile, Colombia, Mexico and Peru in collaboration with the Korea Film Archive are to hold the festival from Dec. 10-15, offering eight films across genres, including documentary, drama, comedy and suspense. The eight films are: Chilean documentary “This Is the Way I Like It II,” Col

PROMOTING WONDERS OF CUNEO -- Italian Ambassador to South Korea Federico Failla (fourth left), Mayor of Cuneo Federico Borgna (fifth left), Assessor for Tourism for the Province of Cuneo, Piemonte Italy Luca Serale (sixth left), and Secretary General of Italian Chamber of Commerce in Korea Jacopo Giuman (first right) post for a photo at a seminar titled “Discovering the Cuneo Province,” an event aimed at promoting the northwestern province that borders France, hosted by the ITCCK at

The British Chamber of Commerce in Korea is to hold the first Tax & Finance Forum this week under the theme “2020 Vision: Shaping the Future of Tax & Finance,” the chamber said Monday.Sponsored by Samil PricewaterhouseCoopers, the forum is to take place Wednesday at the Four Seasons Hotel Seoul, inviting industry leaders from PwC, the Bank of Korea, and Korean law firms. “Tax and finance professionals working at multinational companies in Korea are encouraged to partici

The Argentine Embassy in South Korea hosted the 9th Wines of Argentina last week with an aim to promote its wine to Korean consumers, the embassy said. “Through the event we are making efforts to introduce outstanding Argentine wine in the Korean market and continue the positive trend of Korea-bound exports,” Argentine Ambassador to South Korea Alfredo Carlos Bascou said at the event.  “Argentina’s wine industry is receiving attention as an attractive option for tour

The Brazilian Embassy in Seoul is holding a photo exhibition in commemoration of the 60th anniversary of diplomatic relations between South Korea and Brazil. The exhibition “Brazil and Korea Through My Eyes” displays 40 photographs of Brazil and South Korea taken by Brazilian photographer Joao Paulo Barbosa over the past 15 years. “This exhibition is a strong symbol of the bonds that fortunately unite our two cultures and peoples. It is very interesting to observe that in