The Korea Herald

‘Road to democracy is not smooth’

Egyptian Ambassador opens up about regime change and its global implicationsThe revolution in Egypt was not about an outside occupying force, nor was it just about socio-economic conditions. According to the Egyptian ambassador, it was about the fundamental rights of the citizens to be treated fairly and have a say in their future.“People all over the world have the same aspirations: freedom, resp

March 6, 2011

Gadhafi forces battle rebels as 37 killed in Libya

TRIPOLI, Libya (AP) - Moammar Gadhafi's regime struck back at its opponents with a powerful attack Friday on the closest opposition-held city to Tripoli and a barrage of tear gas and live ammunition to smother new protests in the capital. At least 37 people died in fighting and in an explosion at an ammunitions depot in Libya's rebellious east.The bloodshed signaled an escalation in efforts by bot

March 5, 2011

Gadhafi's Ukrainian nurse returns home

KIEV, Ukraine (AP) _ Libyan dictator Moammar Gadhafi on Sunday was ditched by yet another close confidant _ the Ukrainian nurse thought to have a close relationship with the leader.Halyna Kolotnytska, 38, joined senior government officials, diplomats and pilots who have deserted Gadhafi after he brutally suppressed anti-government protests. (AP)Kolotnytska arrived in Kiev in the early hours of Sun

March 2, 2011

S. Korea expresses deep concern over bloodshed in Libya, urges N.Korea to improve human rights

South Korea expressed deep concern over the bloodshed in Libya and urged North Korea to improve its human rights conditions during a U.N. human rights meeting held in Geneva on Monday, the foreign ministry said. Second Vice Foreign Minister Min Dong-seok made the appeal during a keynote speech at a high-level segment meeting of the U.N. Human Rights Council that opened in Geneva, Switzerland, o

March 1, 2011

New Zealand police launch search for S. Koreans missing in quake

CHRISTCHURCH, New Zealand, (Yonhap) -- Police in New Zealand on Monday visited the father of two South Korean siblings who remain missing since last week's deadly earthquake to retrieve evidence that could help identify the two, the South Korean embassy in Wellington said.Police visited the 57-year-old father, Yoo Sang-cheol, at his motel in Christchurch to collect cell samples from his mouth and

Feb. 28, 2011

New Zealand police launch search for S. Koreans missing in quake

Alberta office launches new look

The Alberta Korea Office has launched a new website filled with information about visiting and studying in the west-Canadian province.The website also includes detailed descriptions of the province’s industries and investment opportunities.The office has been operating in Seoul since 1984 connecting interests from both sides while building and developing closer relationships. The new website can b

Feb. 27, 2011

Brazil Embassy makes payments easier

The Embassy of Brazil announced that payments for their consular services can be made at any bank as of March 1.To take advantage of the new procedure, the embassy requests customers to report to the Consular Section in order to obtain instructions about the exact amount to be transferred and information about the new account. For more information, visit the embassy’s site at www.brasemb.or.kr.

Feb. 27, 2011

German costume ball for Karneval

The German Karneval festival is coming to Seoul on March 4 offering pomp and pageantry without having to fly to Germany.Organized by the Goethe-Institut and the Konrad Adenauer Foundation, the costume ball will include lively speeches, a religious ceremony and awards for the best costumes as well as a mini-concert by an ABBA revival band and a new interpretation of Swan Lake performed by an all-ma

Feb. 27, 2011

British Embassy offers scholarships for Koreans

The Chevening scholarship scheme is now accepting applications at the British Embassy in South Korea. The prestigious scheme offers talented graduates and young professionals the chance to study for postgraduate qualifications at universities in the United Kingdom.The Chevening scholarships cover the full cost of one year of postgraduate study in the United Kingdom from 2011-2012. Over 800 Koreans

Feb. 27, 2011

App makes tourism easy in Switzerland

One day Korean travelers will not need to carry heavy books, guides and maps to travel in Switzerland.Instead, all relevant information such as maps, guides, text, photos and even videos will be put on smartphones and tablet computers for travelers to experience Switzerland without the need for tour guides or paper.“We want to get rid of all boundaries and the boundary for Koreans is language when

Feb. 27, 2011

UNESCO awards honor education

Each year, UNESCO’s Asia-Pacific Center of Education selects the best cases for initiatives promoting understanding through education.The 2010 Best Practice Awards were given to five reports out of 58 cases from 15 countries.The Asia-Pacific Center of Education for International Understanding office in Seoul published five monographs for the best Education for International Understanding (EIU) fro

Feb. 27, 2011

Transforming Jordan into a gem

Envoy hopes investments will help bring nation’s economy into a new eraAfter several high-level visits and important contracts, the Jordanian government decided to open an embassy in Seoul late last year. To head this important task they brought in Ambassador Omar Nahar, who opened an embassy in Tel Aviv after Jordan and Israel signed the peace treaty in 1994. Jordan Ambassador Omar Nahar (Yoav C

Feb. 27, 2011

More S. Koreans flee Libya on chartered plane

An Egypt Air chartered plane carrying 60 South Koreans left a central Libyan city on Sunday for Cairo, as Seoul continued to pull its nationals out of the African nation mired in a bloody anti-government revolt. The foreign ministry in Seoul said the flight left Surte, central Libya, for the Egyptian capital around 11:15 a.m. Sunday, Korean time. A ministry official said the plane carried 60 So

Feb. 27, 2011

More S. Koreans flee Libya on chartered plane

Second plane with S. Koreans fleeing Libya arrives in Seoul

INCHEON -- A chartered Korean Air plane carrying 235 South Koreans out of strife-torn Libya arrived in Seoul Saturday, as the government was preparing to send another to bring home more Koreans stranded there. Those who returned home were met at Incheon International Airport by relatives and friends. Also arriving with them were three foreigners. Despite the long flight, all looked health

Feb. 27, 2011

Second charter flight brings S. Koreans out of turmoil-battered Libya

A second South Korea-chartered plane has flown out of Libya as part of Seoul's efforts to evacuate its nationals from the North African nation engulfed in bloody clashes between protesters and government forces, the Foreign Ministry said Saturday.The special Korean Air flight left the Libyan capital of Tripoli with 236 South Koreans on board around 11 p.m. Friday (6 a.m. Saturday Korean time) befo

Feb. 26, 2011

U.S. expected to replace ambassador to Seoul

The U.S. is expected to replace its ambassador to Seoul, considering deputy assistant secretary of state Joseph Donovan as a strong candidate to take the position, reports have said. The reports come as President Barack Obama is conducting an extensive reshuffle of his White House staff in the third year of his presidency. According to the reports, Donovan will be taking over from incumbent Ambass

Feb. 25, 2011

S. Korea, U.S. united on N.K., FTA: envoy

South Korea and the U.S. are “on the best of terms” regarding a shared belief to remain firm against North Korea’s nuclear activities and activate their free trade deal at the earliest possible date, Seoul’s ambassador to Washington said Thursday.“We have been together on maintaining international sanctions against North Korea, while also keeping open chances of dialogue,” Amb. Han Duck-soo said d

Feb. 24, 2011

Diplomats watching alleged spying case

The alleged involvement of the South Korean spy agency in a fumbled industrial espionage job is the dominating debate in the diplomatic community here.At the center of the controversy is the bidding for a contract to supply trainer jets, tanks and missiles to Indonesia. South Korea’s T-50 supersonic planes are competing with Russia’s Y-130 trainer jets for the deal.Some high-ranking diplomats expr

Feb. 24, 2011

China again calls for 6-party talks soon

Visiting Chinese Foreign Minister Yang Jiechi again emphasized the need for the resumption soon of the stalled multinational talks on North Korea’s denuclearization, indicating the lingering opinion gap with Seoul over how to deal with the North’s ongoing nuclear ambitions. The two-day visit by Yang Jiechi comes as regional powers share escalating concerns over Pyongyang’s ongoing nuclear threat a

Feb. 23, 2011

China again calls for 6-party talks soon

Four Koreans rescued from quake-damaged hotel in New Zealand

Emergency services search the rumble for survivors of the collapsed CTV building in Christchurch's business district, Tuesday, Feb. 22, 2011. Search teams using dogs, heavy cranes and earth movers worked through dawn Wednesday in one of New Zealand's largest cities, trying frantically to find survivors amid the crumbled concrete, twisted metal and huge mounds of brick left by a powerful earthquake

Feb. 23, 2011

Four Koreans rescued from quake-damaged hotel in New Zealand