Seoul moves to consolidate right to Dokdo

Heliport repair under way, to be completed in May: government sourceWhile cautious not to provoke too much tension as Japan continues to suffer from the aftermath of a powerful quake, South Korea is quietly carrying out projects aimed at countering the neighboring state’s continued claims over its islets of Dokdo, sources here said Thursday. Japan strengthened its claims over South Korea’s eastern

March 31, 2011

Japan authorizes new school textbooks renewing claims to Dokdo

  Japan authorized a dozen new school textbooks renewing territorial claims to South Korea's easternmost islets of Dokdo on Wednesday in a move sure to sour the warming relations between the two neighbors.   The approval was seen by many South Koreans as a slap in the face as it came at a time when they have been pouring out sympathy and support for their former colonial ruler as it suffers from a

March 30, 2011

Prime minister to visit China next month

South Korean Prime Minister Kim Hwang-sik will visit China next month for talks with his counterpart and other senior officials on ways to develop diplomatic and economic ties, Kim’s office said Tuesday.During the April 12-14 trip, Kim will hold talks with Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao and pay a visit to President Hu Jintao, the office said in a statement.Kim will also meet with Wu Bangguo, China’s t

March 29, 2011

Seoul vows stern steps over Japan’s claims to Dokdo

South Korea will act sternly should Japan move to strengthen its claims to Seoul’s easternmost islets of Dokdo in its reviewed middle school textbooks, the Foreign Ministry here said Monday. Tokyo is currently conducting a review of its history, geography and other middle school textbooks, the result of which is expected to be unveiled this week. The renewed textbooks are believed to contain Japan

March 28, 2011

French scholarships for next academic year

The French Embassy is accepting applications for 18-25 local students for the Blaise Pascal scholarship scheme.Launched in 2005, the program encourages talented students from Korean universities to pursue postgraduate degrees in France.The French government, through the embassy in Seoul, has been providing scholarships of excellence to Korean citizens for more than 55 years, and over 1,650 Koreans

March 27, 2011

Quota set for NZ Working Holiday Scheme

Students interested in studying in New Zealand under the Working Holiday Scheme should get ready as 1,800 places will become available on April 15.Applications can be made online from 10 a.m.For more information, including relevant links to the appropriate New Zealand government agencies, visit the embassy’s website at www.nzembassy.com/korea.(yoav@heraldm.com)

March 27, 2011

Korea, Israel collaborate on nanoparticles

Ink from silver-coated copper particles for printed electronics marks the first commercial joint venture between a technology transfer office of an Israeli University and a Korean company.The deal gives a leading Korean printing firm the rights to an Israeli innovation in producing conductive ink.Vaxan Steel will develop a process invented at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem for utilizing silver

March 27, 2011

Canada celebrates its French culture

For the Week of the Francophonie held throughout the world, the Canadian Embassy and Quebec Provincial Office in Seoul are organizing an event to showcase Canada’s place in the French world. Set for March 29, the event titled “Canada and La Francophonie” will feature a presentation on French Canadian universities and an advanced screening of the 2011 Oscar nominated French Canadian film “Incendies

March 27, 2011

India Cultural Center opens with spring classes

India and Korea share a very long history, yet Indian culture in Korea is still relatively unknown and, at times, misunderstood.The Indian Embassy is planning to change that with the opening of its Cultural Center on the first floor of the Korean Methodist Women’s Society building in 36-1 Hannam-dong, Yongsan district. The embassy will hold regular classes from April 1.Everyone is welcomed to sign

March 27, 2011

Carter expected to visit Pyongyang next month

Former U.S. President Jimmy Carter is expected to visit North Korea next month to thaw the frozen dialogue between the two sides, reports said Thursday, as Washington continues to snub holding two-way talks with the unpredictable state. “It is highly likely that ex-President Carter will travel to North Korea in about a month as the North Korean mission in New York has been arranging for the visit,

March 24, 2011

S. Korea to clamp down on illegal Chinese fishing

  South Korea will take tougher steps to deal with illegal Chinese fishing activities in its exclusive economic zone (EEZ) to better preserve the country's marine resources, the government said Thursday.   The Ministry for Food, Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries said more boats and personnel will be assigned to cope with illegal fishing in the Yellow Sea up until the end of April, when Chinese b

March 24, 2011

Libyan gunmen rob Korean-run building sites

Armed robbers broke into two South Korean-run construction sites in Libya in separate incidents earlier this week, with one group stealing cash, but no one was injured, the Foreign Ministry said Tuesday.Three armed men stormed an office at a construction site in the Libyan capital of Tripoli on Sunday and stole about $2,500 from there, the ministry said. Separately, a group of four armed people br

March 22, 2011

China loath to criticize N.K. nuke program

Foreign ministers of South Korea, China to meet in Beijing next weekTackling North Korea’s uranium enrichment activities within the framework of the stalled six-nation dialogue is the best solution so far, a senior Chinese diplomat said this week, repeating his government’s reluctance to seek a U.N. condemnation of the program. Hu Zhengyue, Beijing’s assistant foreign minister, also called on Sout

March 22, 2011

S. Korea ready to pull last people out of Libya

Destroyer on standby near EgyptSouth Korea is ready to pull out all of its nationals from Libya if necessary after examining safety conditions, an official here said Monday as allied forces launch powerful strikes against the Libyan leader’s military. To assist the possible mass evacuation of Korean nationals to neighboring states, Seoul’s 4,500-ton destroyer Choi Young has been on standby off the

March 21, 2011