The first Mekong-Korea Summit will kick off Wednesday in Busan following the conclusion of the ASEAN-Republic of Korea Commemorative Summit as part of Seoul’s drive to diversify diplomatic and economic channels, reducing reliance on traditional partners.Laotian Prime Minister Thongloun Sisoulith said the Mekong-Korea summit will contribute to advancing the living standards of countries in the Mekong region. “This (Mekong-Korea summit) will be an opportunity to advance future cooperat

Less than a month before Hanoi assumes chairmanship of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations, Vietnamese Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc said forming a unified stance for the regional bloc on global issues is at the top of its agenda.Seeking to bring together ASEAN countries, Vietnam has set forth “Cohesive and Responsive” as the theme of its ASEAN chairmanship, effective Jan. 1, 2020.“ASEAN will unite under this theme and actively contribute to global peace and sustainabi

BUSAN -- South Korea and ASEAN showcased the future of smart and sustainable living at the Smart City Fair being held on the sidelines of the ASEAN-ROK Commemorative Summit in Busan.Organized by the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport and Busan Metropolitan City, the three-day fair kicked off Monday, showcasing smart cities, which encompasses smart homes, water, recycling, security, health care and mobility.“(A) smart city is a new platform that contains future technologies and

The unification of the Korean Peninsula will be made possible when neighboring East Asian countries proceed with a mutual understanding of the impact of cooperation, says the EU’s top diplomat in Seoul.“I would like to pass on the message that it is important to work together ... that’s missing in Northeast Asia,” EU Ambassador Michael Reiterer said in an interview with The Korea Herald in central Seoul last month.“If Korea, Japan and China could work together in a

Former Indonesian Foreign Minister Marty Natalegawa said the Association of Southeast Asian Nations played an important role in three aspects -- relationship among member states, their international status and the economy. Natalegawa was in South Korea to launch the Korean edition of his book “Does ASEAN Matter?” last week to commemorate the 30th anniversary of ties between Seoul and ASEAN.The launch comes ahead of the special commemorative summit between South Korea and 10 ASEAN mem

The Korea Foundation, the Embassy of Denmark in Seoul and Denmark’s Animation Workshop have opened an exhibition that incorporates virtual reality and animation in celebration of the 60th anniversary of diplomatic ties between South Korea and Denmark, organizers said.“Just in this room you can visit the island of Hawaii in 1983, and virtually experience its ecosystem. … We are looking forward to more synergies between Korean and Danish animation industries,” Danish Ambas

The Australian Embassy in Seoul said Monday it has initiated water safety campaign at Sangcheon Elementary School in northeastern Seoul last week to minimize water-related risks involving children.“The Australian Embassy is proud to collaborate with Lifesaving Society Korea to help educate young South Koreans about how to minimize risks when having fun in water,” Australian Ambassador to Korea James Choi said. “I hope this helps raise awareness of the risks and encourages all K

French Secretary of State for Digital Affairs Cedric O said Korean IT giants were created on the back of early adopters and Koreans’ familiarity with English.“South Korea and France have a similar number of unicorns totaling about seven to eight. South Korean IT companies are championing in the field compared to French companies because … the Korean market has a lot of early adopters,” O said.The French minister recalled seeing Koreans watching television on their cellph

Prior to the cancellation of the APEC summit in Chile, South Korean officials kept tabs on the now-delayed encounter between South Korean President Moon Jae-in and Mexican President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador in hopes the meeting would speed up a trade agreement.Mexico’s top diplomat in Seoul said earlier this month the Latin American country hopes to promptly conclude negotiations on Korea’s associate membership of the Pacific Alliance.Seoul kicked off talks to become part of the t

From gambas al ajillo to paella to iberico pork, Spanish cuisine has become familiar here thanks to a surge in South Korean tourists visiting the country on vacation and honeymoon.However, there are a number of common misconceptions here about Spanish food -- that Spanish dishes are heavy on sodium and that olive oil, the majority of which is produced in Spain, is not suitable for frying.Dispelling such misconceptions was the aim of the second Spanish Extravaganza Festival held at the Four Seaso

South Korea’s soft power on the global stage has greatly improved over the past few years as a result of the global popularity of K-pop, K-food, K-beauty and Korean goods in general.To further enhance Korea’s status in the international community beyond Asia, Korea Foundation President Lee Geun said the country should form a presence among developed countries and develop a strategy to be perceived as “attractive.”“For South Korea to be acknowledged in Europe (and ot

Amid a steady rise in the number of French entrepreneurs tapping into Korea, the new managing director of the French-Korean Chamber of Commerce and Industry said South Korea can become a gateway to Asia on the back of a host of factors that makes it an appealing business location.“South Korea has a lot of assets for foreign companies with highly qualified labor, supportive policies, an extensive network of FTAs and FEZs. Korea can be seen as a convenient base for investment and to establis

The Korean Cultural Center in Spain, in conjunction with the Embassy of Spain in Colombia, introduced four films directed by women at its second Korean & Latin American Film Screening, which took place Oct. 15-24.“The Korean & Latin American Film Screening evening is a project planned by the Korean Cultural Center in Spain. Last April Argentina was selected as the guest country of honor, followed by Colombia,” Yi Chong-yul, director of the Korean Cultural Center in Spain, sai

Habib House, the US ambassador’s residence in central Seoul, reopened to the public last weekend a week after a group of protesters climbed the wall into the compound earlier this month.“We opened Habib House grounds to the public today. Terrific event! Partnered with Seoul City to showcase this wonderful historic treasure in the heart of Seoul. Thank you Seoul Metropolitan Agency for powerful support,” US Ambassador to Seoul Harry Harris said on social media Saturday.A group o

Former top US envoy to Seoul Mark Lippert’s tenure here ended in early 2017, but he remains South Koreans’ most beloved former US ambassador for his friendly personality, his open-mindedness, his fondness for learning the Korean language and, most importantly, his basset hound Grigsby.Lippert, who continues to champion public diplomacy, said public diplomacy is a form of two-way communication, as shown through the popularity of “ambassa-dog” Grigsby. “Public diploma

Gingko trees that line streets and parks in South Korea have many benefits. They are easy to grow, require virtually no maintenance once established and are tolerant of pollution. The seeds, harvested in fall, are believed to be good for the brain and for blood circulation. On top of that, the leaves turn a spectacular fall color, providing a chance to enjoy the season’s beauty right in the middle of a busy city. The treat, however, comes at a cost. Female gingko trees produ

Kent Rolf Magnus Harstedt, special envoy of the Swedish government to North Korea, said Wednesday morning that Sweden will suggest fresh working-level talks between Pyongyang and Washington after last month’s meeting ended without an agreement.“Now we are ready to issue invitation for them to come again. Of course it needs to happen when they are ready. But from our side we will definitely try to convince them to move on in the process to the next step,” Harstedt said at a pres

Philippine Board of Investments Gov. Napoleon Concepcion urged South Korean companies to consider the Philippines as a manufacturing base, rather than a market for finished goods, on the grounds that doing so will boost synergy between the two countries. “Most Korean companies and investors look at the Philippines as a market for finished products. But we also need the transfer of technology (from Korea). If some of Korea’s manufacturing can be done in the Philippines, it can also co

RAISING CULTURAL AWARENESS – Oman’s Ambassador to South Korea Mohamed Alharthy (first row, third left) and Corea Image Communication Institute President Choi Jung-wha (first row, fourth left) pose for a photo after an event held at the Omani Embassy in Seoul, Oct. 15. Alharthy gave an introduction on Oman, including its more than 5,000-year-old culture. during the event organized by CICI which also included a presentation by Geum Key-sook, a professor at Hongik University, on the bea

Video shot and edited by Kim So-mee SUNCHEON, South Jeolla Province -- Some 200 participants representing South Korea and the 10 member countries of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations gathered at the lobby of Paradise Hotel, Busan, in the early morning of Thursday beaming with excitement about the second day of the three-day train trip across the country ahead of the ASEAN-Korea special summit in November.After a jam-packed day of a six-hour train ride, a visit to the temple Bulguksa, wh