Articles by Park Han-na
Park Han-na
hnpark@heraldcorp.com-
[Diplomatic Circuit] Swiss Embassy opens hanok-inspired building in Seoul
The Embassy of Switzerland has opened its new building that reinterprets hanok -- traditional Korean houses -- in central Seoul, in the hope that it will serve as a platform for cooperation between the two countries. “This reconstruction of the embassy is a symbol of our longstanding friendship with the Republic of Korea and of Switzerland’s sincere desire to further expand our excellent and mutually beneficial relations in all fields,” Ambassador Linus von Castelmur said during a media conferen
Diplomatic Circuit May 20, 2019
-
UAE plays decisive role in freeing Korean from Libya
Rescue efforts by the United Arab Emirates and the Eastern-Libya army played a crucial role in freeing a Korean national held captive for 315 days in western Libya, an official at Seoul’s Foreign Ministry said Friday. The 62-year-old Korean hostage, surnamed Joo, and three Filipinos were taken hostage by militants last year while working as civil engineers at a desalination plant in western Libya. The ministry official cited a statement from the UAE Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International
Foreign Affairs May 17, 2019
-
Ministry downplays reports on North Korea’s food situation
Amid the Seoul government’s efforts to send humanitarian aid to the North, the Unification Ministry on Wednesday shrugged off reports that North Korea might not be facing a severe food crisis given that the price of rice in the country is on a downward trend. The price of rice in the North Korean market, known as jangmadang, had fallen to 4,000 won per kilogram as of April 30, from 5,000 won in November last year, according to a report by Daily NK, which regularly surveys the price. “We recogniz
North Korea May 15, 2019
-
Seoul mulls sending food aid to Pyongyang before October
The South Korean government is considering sending food aid to North Korea before the harvest season at the request of a UN agency that called on the international community to support Pyongyang, which is facing its worst food crisis in 10 years, a ministry official said Tuesday. Citing a recent joint report from the World Food Program and the Food and Agriculture Organization on North Korea’s food situation, a Unification Ministry official said May to September would be an appropriate time to p
North Korea May 14, 2019
-
[News Briefs] Ministry to revise travel alert system for Africa, Middle East
South Korea will revise the travel warning system for conflict-prone regions in Africa and the Middle East, in a move to prevent recurrence of the recent case of a citizen who was rescued after being held captive by militants in the region for a month, a Foreign Ministry official said Monday. The alert level for the eastern part of Burkina Faso in West Africa will be raised to level three, or red, warning people not to travel there or to leave the country. Unnamed freed South Korean hostage, le
Foreign Affairs May 13, 2019
-
[Diplomatic circuit] Swedish Embassy in Seoul holds business forum on China, 5G
The Sweden-Korea Business Forum 2019 was held by the Embassy of Sweden in Seoul together with Business Sweden and the Swedish Chamber of Commerce in Korea on Monday, in a bid to discuss ways to enhance competitiveness of companies in the rapidly changing economic environment, especially in China and the technology sector. Some 70 people from Swedish companies operating in South Korea, including fashion brand H&M and Ericsson-LG, a telecommunication equipment joint venture, participated in the fo
Diplomatic Circuit May 13, 2019
-
[Feature] Recalibrating diplomatic portfolio with New Southern Policy
The escalating tensions between the US and China highlight the pressing need for broadening South Korea’s diplomatic horizon further with President Moon Jae-in’s initiative that aims at deepening ties with the 10-member Association of Southeast Asian Nations. However, the policy should address more regional issues rather than just expanding Seoul’s economic presence in the ASEAN block, experts said. President Moon Jae-in (second from left) at 31st ASEAN Summits in Manila, Philippines, Nov. 13,
Foreign Affairs May 12, 2019
-
[Eye Plus] Seongnagwon, private garden of Joseon
For those who dream of escaping from the hustle and bustle of the city life, Seongnagwon offers a new level of relaxation, with 200 years of history that had been veiled until only recently. The garden, whose name means “enjoy nature outside of the castle,” is open to the public only temporarily, from April 23 to June 11, as preservation work is not yet completed.Created in 1790, Seongnagwon was used as a royal villa for 35 years by Yi Gang, the fifth son of King Gojong of the late Joseon era (1
Travel May 10, 2019
-
Food aid to Pyongyang unlikely to fuel Seoul’s nuclear diplomacy
The South Korean government is ramping up efforts to send food aid to North Korea in an attempt to thaw relations and revive stalled denuclearization negotiations between the US and the North, but it remains unclear how Pyongyang will respond. The presidential office Cheong Wa Dae, the Unification Ministry and Foreign Ministry are moving swiftly to clear obstacles in providing humanitarian assistance to North Korea, after a call between President Moon Jae-in and US President Donald Trump on Tues
Foreign Affairs May 9, 2019
-
New envoy vows to work closely with Russia to rope in N. Korea
South Korea’s Ambassador to Russia Lee Suk-bae has pledged to deepen bilateral cooperation with Moscow, a country that he believes will contribute to building a peace regime on the Korean Peninsula. “This is a very important moment for strategic communication between South Korea and Russia for denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula and establishment of a peace regime,” Lee, who was appointed as a new ambassador to Russia on May 3, told reporters on Tuesday. South Korea’s Ambassador to Russia L
Foreign Affairs May 7, 2019
-
Policy of offering full support for North Korean defectors unchanged: ministry
The Foreign Ministry reaffirmed Tuesday that it will continue to exert due efforts to bring North Korean defectors who wish to flee to the South from overseas, fending off criticism that Seoul is taking a passive approach toward them. “We have a principle of bringing all North Korean defectors if they wish to come to South Korea on their own free will,” a ministry official said. He dismissed recent news reports that the government has changed its guidelines on protecting defectors from the North
North Korea April 30, 2019
-
Revival of six-party talks on North Korea unlikely: experts
Russian President Vladimir Putin’s call for multilateral dialogue to provide an international security guarantee for North Korea has raised the possibility of resuming six-party talks, but experts said this is highly unlikely.The talks involving the two Koreas, the US, China, Russia and Japan began in 2003 in an effort to persuade the North to give up its nuclear ambitions. But the talks collapsed in 2008 mainly because the North denied access to its nuclear facilities. Russia's President Vladim
North Korea April 29, 2019
-
[Diplomatic Circuit] Denmark’s princess to promote health care firms during state visit
Celebrating the 60th anniversary of diplomatic relations, Denmark’s Crown Prince Frederik and Princess Mary will make a state visit to Korea from May 20-22 with a business delegation, the Danish Embassy in Seoul said. The key purpose of the visit is to give “visibility to Danish technology and high-quality products,” according to the Royal Danish House. The couple plans to attend a business conference and seminars. Visits to Korean companies across various sectors, including sustainable energy a
Diplomatic Circuit April 29, 2019
-
South Korea, US, Japan to hold defense talks next month in Seoul
Defense officials from South Korea, the US and Japan will meet here in early May for annual trilateral talks, the Defense Ministry said Sunday, amid tensions between Seoul and Tokyo over an incident in the East Sea in December. Japan has accused a South Korean warship of locking its fire-control radar on a Japanese maritime patrol aircraft, a claim South Korea denies.The goal of the Defense Trilateral Talks, which have been held every year since 2008, is to deepen cooperation on regional securit
Defense April 28, 2019
-
Putin calls for six-way talks for North Korea’s denuclearization
Russian President Vladimir Putin called Thursday for the resumption of six-way talks on North Korea’s denuclearization to move stalled negotiations forward. “If South Korea and the US can offer sufficient measures for (North Korea’s security) guarantee, the six-party talks may not be operated. But the guarantee mechanism from the South and the US does not seem to be sufficient,” he said.He was speaking at a press conference after a summit with North Korean leader Kim Jong-un for the first time a
North Korea April 25, 2019
Most Popular
-
1
South Korean author Han Kang wins 2024 Nobel Prize in literature
-
2
NewJeans’ Hanni to attend National Assembly audit as witness
-
3
Exploring works of Han Kang
-
4
North Korea already cut off inter-Korean roads in Aug.: JCS chief
-
5
[Breaking] South Korea's Han Kang wins 2024 Nobel literature prize
-
6
Han Kang's 'first reactions' after winning the Nobel Prize
-
7
Teenage N. Korean defector shares horrific story of life in reclusive regime
-
8
[Graphic News] First marriage age rises to 34 for men, 31.5 for women
-
9
[What to attend] October is opera season in Korea. Here's what not to miss
-
10
Hyundai India to launch record $3.3 billion IPO on Oct. 22