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People's Council of Turkmenistan: Mandate, modern role and decisions
The Halk Maslakhaty (People’s Council) of Turkmenistan is the highest representative body of people’s power, created in line with the country’s historical tradition of resolving important national issues through broad public representation and national forums. It derives its status and powers from the Constitutional Law on the Halk Maslakhaty of Turkmenistan. The People’s Council considers and approves proposals on the constitution and Constitutional Laws; sets the main directions of domestic an
Sept. 18, 2025 -
Indonesia to host festival in Seoul
The Embassy of Indonesia in Seoul will host Festival Indonesia on Saturday at the Floating Stage in Yeouido Hangang Park. Under the theme “Wonderful Indonesia: A Journey to Paradise," the annual event invites the public for a cultural journey of the Indonesian archipelago with vibrant rhythms of traditional music and the aromas of authentic street food, according to the embassy. Designed as a sensory adventure for all ages, the festival will showcase Indonesia’s diverse and exotic charm in the h
Sept. 18, 2025 -
CEOs of Herald, KGCCI discuss cooperation
Herald Media Group CEO Choi Jin-young and the Korean-German Chamber of Commerce and Industry CEO Marie Antonia von Schonburg agreed on Wednesday to enhance cooperation between Korea and Germany. In a courtesy visit to Herald Corp. headquarters, Schonburg underlined the need to harness the EU-Korea FTA platform amid the uncertain international business climate. “I was just in Frankfurt last week for Korean Business Day, and I talked about Korea to many German companies interested in Korea. On the
Sept. 18, 2025 -
Trade minister meets USTR Greer to narrow differences over Korea's investment package
South Korea's Trade Minister Yeo Han-koo met with US Trade Representative Jamieson Greer in Washington on Tuesday, an informed source said, as Seoul and Washington have been in negotiations to hash out specifics of a bilateral trade deal struck in late July. Their meeting was the latest round of negotiations between the two countries, after Korea's Industry Minister Kim Jong-kwan held talks with US Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick in New York last week. On July 30, the two sides reached a frame
Sept. 17, 2025 -
El Salvador marks Independence Day with concert
El Salvador marked its 204th Independence Day in Seoul on Monday with the Indigo Heart Tour 2025 concert by renowned vocal ensemble Opus 503. The performance showcased a diverse repertoire spanning Spanish, Italian, Guatemalan, and Salvadoran classics, offering audiences a cross-continental musical journey that highlighted both global and Salvadoran cultural traditions. The concert opened with Spanish and Italian classics, including Agustin Lara’s "Granada" and "O Sole Mio" and Ennio Morricone’s
Sept. 16, 2025 -
Mexico reaffirms growing ties with Korea on Independence Day
Mexico reaffirmed growing ties with South Korea, marking the 215th anniversary of Mexico’s independence from Spain on Friday. In his remarks at the event, Mexican Ambassador to Korea Carlos Penafiel Soto reiterated a new stage of transformation in Mexico, driven by President Claudia Sheinbaum Pardo's leadership. “President Sheinbaum's government is promoting an economic model based on achieving equal prosperity for all," according to Soto. Soto said Mexico's model focuses on economic stability,
Sept. 16, 2025 -
Seoul hosts first-ever Ambassador’s Cup Kurash championship
Seoul hosted the inaugural Uzbekistan Ambassador’s Cup Kurash championship with athletes across senior, junior and cadet divisions on Saturday. Kurash, a traditional form of upright wrestling originating from Uzbekistan, differs from judo in that athletes are not allowed to grip their opponent’s legs or pants. In Kurash, competitors are distinguished by their jackets, with one wearing green and the other blue. The sport became an official medal discipline at the 2018 Asian Games and is now pract
Sept. 16, 2025 -
EU seeks stronger data protection with S. Korea
The European Union is seeking to boost cooperation with South Korea on data protection, privacy and consumer safety, Michael McGrath, EU commissioner for democracy, justice, the rule of law and consumer protection, told reporters Monday. McGrath is in Seoul to attend high-level meetings on cross-border data governance, privacy, product safety and consumer protection. McGrath said the EU saw no need for a major GDPR overhaul, though it was reviewing possible changes and easing record-keeping rule
Sept. 16, 2025 -
Seoul festival highlights African potential
“Africa is rising. Africa is booming,” Togolani Edriss Mavura, vice dean of the African Group of Ambassadors in Seoul and Tanzania’s ambassador to South Korea, said Friday at the Seoul Africa Festival. The annual event, now in its ninth year, showcased African music, dance, fashion and visual arts, celebrating the continent’s cultural vitality and growing global influence. Mavura said Africa’s vast natural resources — including graphite, nickel, lithium, cobalt and rare earth minerals — mean it
Sept. 16, 2025 -
Trade minister says 'devil is in the details,' S. Korea, US in 'intense' negotiations
South Korea's Trade Minister Yeo Han-koo said Monday that the "devil is in the details," noting that Seoul and Washington are engaging "intensively" in negotiations to hash out specifics of a bilateral framework trade deal struck in July. Yeo made the remarks in a meeting with reporters upon arrival at Dulles International Airport near Washington, as he plans to meet US Trade Representative Jamieson Greer and other officials in the US capital to continue follow-up negotiations on the July deal.
Sept. 16, 2025 -
S. Korea proposes bilateral currency swap with US in trade talks
South Korea has proposed setting up a bilateral currency swap with the United States in recent trade talks with Washington, according to officials Monday, amid prospects of little breakthrough in Seoul's investment package in the US. Seoul has made the proposal of establishing an "unlimited" currency swap arrangement with Washington to defend its currency in its follow-up negotiations on a tariff deal stuck between the two countries in late July. Under the framework deal, South Korea pledged to
Sept. 15, 2025 -
FM Cho urges steps to avoid repeat of Georgia detention in talks with U.S. senators
Foreign Minister Cho Hyun called for steps to prevent a repeat of incidents like the mass detention of South Korean workers in Georgia and voiced hope the US Congress will support visa reforms for Korean businesses, the foreign ministry said Friday. Cho made the call during his meetings with US Sens. Todd Young, Bill Hagerty and Andy Kim in Washington between Wednesday and Thursday, following last week's major US immigration crackdown on a South Korean joint venture site in the southeastern US s
Sept. 12, 2025 -
Senior US diplomat to visit S. Korea to stress commitment to alliance: State Dept.
A senior US diplomat will visit South Korea this week as part of a multi-nation trip aimed at highlighting the United States' commitment to alliances and partnerships in the Indo-Pacific, the State Department said Thursday. From Friday through next Thursday, Deputy Secretary of State Christopher Landau will travel to Korea, Papua New Guinea, and the Republic of the Marshall Islands, it said, noting that he will focus on fostering collaboration, enhancing security and deepening economic ties as W
Sept. 12, 2025 -
Law firm partner appointed top envoy to UN
President Lee Jae Myung has appointed a law firm partner as the new ambassador to the United Nations, a source said Thursday. The appointment of Cha Ji-hoon, a lawyer with the law firm Hwawoo, has been finalized as it does not require "agrement," a diplomatic process in which the host country's consent is sought, a presidential official told Yonhap News Agency. The appointment came shortly before Lee is scheduled to deliver an address at the 80th session of the General Assembly at the UN headqua
Sept. 11, 2025 -
S. Korean trade delegation heads back home after working-level talks in Washington
A South Korean delegation concluded working-level trade talks with US officials in Washington this week, sources said Tuesday, as Seoul and Washington are trying to flesh out a broad-brush trade deal struck in late July. The delegation arrived in Washington late Sunday and held talks with officials from the Commerce Department and the Office of the US Trade Representative on Monday. It marked the first bilateral working-level talks since Presidents Lee Jae Myung and Donald Trump held a summit in
Sept. 10, 2025