Top diplomats of S. Korea, US to meet Wednesday over Koreans detained in immigration raid

South Korea's Foreign Minister Cho Hyun plans to hold talks with US Secretary of State Marco Rubio in Washington on Wednesday, a day later than initially planned, with their agenda expected to focus on hundreds of South Koreans detained in a recent US immigration crackdown in Georgia. The South Korean Embassy in the US capital said Cho and Rubio will meet at 9:30 a.m. (local time) on the day the Koreans are set to head back home aboard a chartered plane in the form of "voluntary departure" rathe

Sept. 10, 2025

Korea and Germany discuss offshore wind energy

Experts from South Korea and Germany discussed offshore wind energy cooperation at the 2025 Korean-German Business Forum on Friday. Held under the theme “Offshore Wind Special Act and Beyond,” the forum featured the Offshore Wind Special Act, the economic feasibility of offshore wind projects, and the common grid connection facility. Norman Ruhnke, policy officer at Germany’s Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Climate Action, highlighted how Berlin’s centralized planning model has acceler

Sept. 9, 2025

Italy seeks partnerships in AI, applied science, says vice minister

Valentino Valentini, Italian vice minister of enterprises and Made in Italy, urged deeper technological cooperation with South Korea, saying the two countries should act as partners rather than competitors in areas such as artificial intelligence, applied science and advanced manufacturing. Valentini, who led the Italy-Korea Business Forum 2025 in Seoul, said Italy offers political stability, “fantastic manufacturing” and a one-stop shop for investors, but remains overlooked by many Korean tech

Sept. 9, 2025

Oman Vision 2040 aligns with Korea's clean energy expertise, undersecretary says

Oman’s Vision 2040 is aligned with the capabilities of Korean firms, according to Mohsin Hamad Al Hadhrami, undersecretary at Oman’s Ministry of Energy and Minerals, in an interview with The Korea Herald. Oman’s Vision 2040 places green hydrogen at the core to diversify the economy beyond hydrocarbons, boost non-oil sectors, and link growth with sustainability. Oman through Hydrogen Oman or Hydrom views green hydrogen as a strategic enabler for transformation and net-zero 2050 commitments. Hydro

Sept. 9, 2025

Uzbekistan eyes role as key supplier for Korea’s high-tech, green industries

Uzbekistan, the most populous of the five Central Asian countries, remains one of the world’s top producers of gold, but it is now seeking to become a key supplier of minerals for green technologies, producing copper, uranium and silver. Uzbekistan wants to become a key partner for Korea’s advanced industries -- working together in critical minerals, semiconductors, green energy and pharmaceuticals, said Laziz Kudratov, Uzbek minister of investment, industry and trade, in an interview with The K

Sept. 9, 2025

S. Korean delegation in US for talks on details of tariff deal: officials

A working-level South Korean trade delegation is currently on a visit to the United States for talks on the details of a framework trade deal reached between the two countries in late July, Seoul's trade officials said Tuesday, with the talks expected to cover the investment package proposed by Korea and non-tariff trade measure issues. The delegates are meeting with officials from the office of the US Trade Representative and the Commerce Department, according to the officials. Seoul and Washin

Sept. 9, 2025

Sawasdee Seoul Festival 2025 marks Thai-Korean ties with culture and ceremony

Thailand’s biggest cultural showcase in South Korea wrapped up Sunday after drawing thousands of visitors to Cheonggye Plaza in downtown Seoul, marking expanding cultural and diplomatic ties between the two countries as the festival celebrated its 10th anniversary. The Sawasdee Seoul Thai Festival 2025, held on Sept. 6 and 7, was hosted by the Royal Thai Embassy in Seoul and supported by both Thai and Korean government partners. This year’s edition, held under the theme “Discover Thailand,” was

Sept. 8, 2025

Defense ministry commemorates 75th anniv. of UN Command

The defense ministry hosted a ceremony Monday to commemorate the 75th anniversary of the establishment of the UN Command and honor the sacrifice of UN troops during the 1950-53 Korean War, the ministry said. The UNC was launched in 1950 following the outbreak of the three-year conflict as a US-led multinational command responsible for maintaining peace and security on the Korean Peninsula, as well as facilitating cooperation among allied nations. Monday's ceremony, hosted by Defense Minister Ahn

Sept. 8, 2025

S. Korea to continue talks with US to safeguard national interests: minister

South Korea will continue its follow-up negotiations with the United States on the details of a bilateral trade agreement signed in late July, the country's trade minister said Monday, highlighting the need to minimize the impact of US tariffs on Korean companies. "The government will hold close talks with the US to minimize the tariffs' impact on Korean companies and safeguard national interests, taking into account the outcome of the US-Japan trade agreement," Trade Minister Yeo Han-koo said.

Sept. 8, 2025

Defense chiefs of S. Korea, Japan to hold talks in Seoul on Monday

The defense chiefs of South Korea and Japan are set to hold talks in Seoul on Monday afternoon, the South's defense ministry said, on the sidelines of the first official visit to the country by a Japanese defense minister in 10 years. The meeting between Defense Minister Ahn Gyu-back and his Japanese counterpart, Gen Nakatani, comes as Nakatani visits Seoul for the Seoul Defense Dialogue, an annual security forum hosted by the South's Defense Ministry. During his two-day trip, Nakatani will also

Sept. 8, 2025

Thai traditions and T-pop energy share the spotlight at Cheonggye Plaza in Seoul

Rain swept through central Seoul on Saturday, but it didn’t stop the crowds from showing up early, and staying late, for one of the capital’s liveliest cultural weekends in recent months. The Sawasdee Seoul Thai Festival 2025, held at Cheonggye Plaza, returned for its 10th anniversary with a program that blended tradition, pop music and community pride. According to organizers at the Royal Thai Embassy in Seoul, thousands of visitors attended on the first day alone, despite periods of heavy rain

Sept. 7, 2025

S. Korea to renew push for joining CPTPP to reduce trade uncertainties: ministry

South Korea will reopen its strategic review on joining the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership, a multilateral trade pact led by Japan, as part of efforts to increase its economic allies amid the global rise of trade protectionism, the industry ministry said Wednesday. "The government will renew its consideration of joining the CPTPP to establish an economic alliance network with like-minded countries," the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy said. The plan

Sept. 3, 2025

Foreign envoys present credentials to President Lee Jae Myung

South Korean President Lee Jae Myung received letters of credence from the newly appointed ambassadors of Bangladesh, Pakistan, Indonesia, the Dominican Republic, Spain, Angola and Algeria at a ceremony held at the presidential office in Yongsan, Seoul, Tuesday.

Sept. 2, 2025

Korea, Central Asia talk ICT

Korea and Central Asian nations explored ways to strengthen information and communications technology cooperation at the Korea-Central Asia Policy Roundtable on Friday. Hosted by the secretariat of the Korea-Central Asia Cooperation Forum, the session focused on ICT education, current challenges and partnership opportunities. “The field of ICT is extremely broad,” said Rhee Jong-kook, executive director of the forum’s secretariat, explaining the focus on ICT education, which is of particular int

Sept. 2, 2025

Vietnam reaffirms common spirit with S. Korea

Vietnam reaffirmed its commitment to cooperation with South Korea, celebrating its 80th National Day and the 33rd anniversary of Vietnam-Korea diplomatic ties on Friday. Vietnam’s Independence Day marks the 1945 declaration of independence from France by President Ho Chi Minh at Ba Dinh Square in Hanoi. The country was a French colony from 1877 until 1945. Drawing on the ideologies of Vietnam’s first president Ho Chi Minh and Korean independence activist Kim Gu, Vietnamese Ambassador to Korea Vu

Sept. 2, 2025