Kyrgyzstan Embassy holds concert to mark 33 years of diplomatic ties with S. Korea

The Kyrgyz Embassy in Seoul marked the 33rd anniversary of diplomatic ties with South Korea by holding a concert titled “Color of Asia” on Wednesday. “It is a great joy to be here with you today to celebrate the 33rd anniversary of diplomatic relations between our two countries through this meaningful cultural event,” said Kyrgyz Ambassador to Korea Aida Ismailova in her opening remarks. Recalling the establishment of diplomatic ties in 1992, she also said that Kyrgyzstan and South Korea have cu

April 21, 2025

US State Dept. says it continues to assess global posture amid report on possible South Korea consulate closure

The US State Department continues to assess America's global programs and posture, a spokesperson said Thursday, following a report that the Trump administration is looking at closing nearly 30 overseas embassies and consulates, including one in South Korea. "No embassy or consulate closures have been announced, and operations continue as normal," the spokesperson said in response to a question from Yonhap News Agency. "The State Department continues to assess our global programs and posture to

April 18, 2025

US Embassy says consulate in Busan operating normally after reports of possible closure

The US Consulate in Busan is currently operating normally, the US Embassy in South Korea said Thursday, after media reports suggested it is being considered for closure. CNN reported Tuesday that the Donald Trump administration is looking at closing 10 embassies and 17 consulates, including the mission in Busan, about 320 kilometers southeast of Seoul, citing an internal State Department document. The US Embassy in Seoul said there has been no announcement of closures of embassies and consulates

April 17, 2025

S. Korea, Netherlands agree to boost cooperation in semiconductor supply chain

South Korea and the Netherlands have agreed to boost supply chain cooperation in semiconductors and critical minerals, including establishing an information-sharing system between their overseas missions, Seoul's foreign ministry said Thursday. The two countries reached the agreement during the bilateral economic dialogue, headed by Kim Hee-sang, deputy foreign minister for economic affairs, and Michiel Sweers, a Dutch vice minister, in The Hague on Wednesday, the ministry said. They agreed to p

April 17, 2025

Time to stimulate India-Korea links through Buddhism, traditional medicine

India and Korea must stimulate deeper academic, cultural and research engagement, Heero Hito, a Buddhist leader and adviser at India's Subharti School of Buddhist Studies, said in an interview with The Korea Herald on Friday. Buddhism, born in India and deeply rooted in the cultural fabric of Korea, has not grown significantly in either nation in recent times, according to Hito. "Through active international cooperation, cross-cultural events and collective action, we must revive the teachings o

April 16, 2025

Acting president says S. Korea, US seeking 'win-win' solution for tariffs

Acting President Han Duck-soo said Wednesday that South Korea and the United States are working to find a "win-win" solution to the issue of US "reciprocal" tariffs on imports from South Korea. Han made the remark during a breakfast meeting with Maryland Gov. Wes Moore, who was in South Korea with a trade delegation, according to Han's office. "He explained that the United States and (South Korea) are communicating, cooperating and negotiating at the ministerial and other levels to find a win-wi

April 16, 2025

Senior Pentagon official calls Trump's policy 'not recipe for isolation' but 'common sense' approach

A senior Pentagon official described President Donald Trump's defense policy Tuesday as "not a recipe for isolation" but a "common sense" approach amid lingering concerns about the potential impact of Trump's America First policy on US alliances and partnerships. New Under Secretary of Defense for Policy Elbridge Colby made the remarks in a social media post on the day after he was sworn in by Vice President J.D. Vance last Wednesday to carry out a key role to flesh out America's defense strateg

April 16, 2025

Seoul official stresses norm setting, space economy, security as key areas for US space cooperation

A Seoul official on Tuesday pointed to setting norms, securing a reliable supply chain for space economy and ensuring national security as priority areas for space-domain cooperation between South Korea and the United States. Han Min-young, director general for climate change, energy, environment and scientific affairs at Seoul's Foreign Ministry, made the remarks during a forum hosted by the Washington-based Center for Strategic and International Studies. The forum took place after Seoul and Wa

April 16, 2025

Indian Embassy, Dongguk University team up for Buddha’s Birthday

The Indian Embassy and Dongguk University commemorated Buddha’s Birthday with a lantern lighting ceremony on Thursday. Buddha’s Birthday is celebrated in Korea on the eighth day of the fourth lunar month, which this year falls on May 5. More than 500 people attended the ceremony to see the lighting of 16,000 lanterns representing Buddhist compassion, wisdom and spiritual bonds, according to the embassy, underscoring India’s deep Buddhist heritage. “In India, there is deep reverence for the teach

April 15, 2025

S. Korea says 'actively' in talks with US over 'sensitive country' issue after list apparently takes effect

South Korea is continuing to "actively" engage in negotiations with the United States to resolve the issue of its placement on the US Department of Energy's Sensitive and Other Designated Countries List, the foreign ministry said Tuesday. The ministry issued the statement as the SCL appears to have come into force Tuesday. The DOE's inclusion of South Korea in the list's lowest category has emerged as a hot button issue in bilateral relations. "We have been actively engaging in negotiations, inc

April 15, 2025

[Bridge to Africa] Morocco-Korea cooperation essential bridge for global trade, says minister

South Korea and Morocco have steadily showed strength despite global trade uncertainties and will emerge even stronger together, said Moroccan Minister of Industry and Trade Ryad Mezzour in an interview with The Korea Herald on April 9. During his visit to Seoul, Mezzour met his South Korean counterpart Ahn Duk-geun to boost industrial cooperation and trade and to initiate talks on an economic partnership agreement. They discussed supply chains, the digital industry and investment opportunities

April 15, 2025

Bangladesh marks 54th Independence Day in Seoul

The Bangladesh Embassy in Seoul commemorated the country's 54th Independence Day on Monday, honoring Bangladesh’s struggle for freedom and celebrating enduring bilateral ties with South Korea. The event served as a solemn reminder of Bangladesh’s nine-month Liberation War in 1971 and the sacrifices made by its people. Delivering remarks at the celebration, Tarazul Islam, charge d’affaires at the Bangladesh Embassy, paid homage to the valiant freedom fighters and martyrs of the war, as well as th

April 15, 2025

Diplomats urge removing ICC jurisdiction limits at Seoul event

Diplomats and legal experts reviewed the Rome Statute and advocated for greater international support for the International Criminal Court, particularly in addressing crimes of aggression at the event, Conference on the Review of the ICC's Rome Statute, held in Seoul on Thursday. A conference hosted by the embassies of Germany, Estonia and Poland at the Goethe-Institut Seoul drew over 100 participants, including diplomats, students and legal professionals. In his keynote remarks, German Ambassad

April 15, 2025

S. Korea, US discuss lunar exploration, satellite navigation at space talks

South Korea and the United States have discussed efforts to expand space cooperation, including lunar exploration, satellite navigation and maritime domain awareness, Seoul's Foreign Ministry said Tuesday. The fourth Civil Space Dialogue took place in Washington on Monday, the first high-level talks on space cooperation since the launch of the Donald Trump administration's second term. The allies discussed expanding South Korea's participation in the US Artemis lunar exploration program and pote

April 15, 2025

Bessent says US will negotiate with S. Korea over trade next week, stresses 'first mover advantage'

The United States will engage in trade negotiations with South Korea next week, Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said Monday, stressing the "first mover advantage," as countries are striving to strike deals with the US to minimize the impact of President Donald Trump's tariff policy on their economies. In a Bloomberg interview, Bessent touched on plans for upcoming negotiations with South Korea and Japan. Earlier this month, Trump imposed steep "reciprocal" tariffs on the two allies and dozens o

April 15, 2025