By Lee Jon-young President Yoon Suk-yeol and First Lady Kim Keon-hee invited 158 independence fighters and bereaved families to the President’s Guest House for a luncheon on Aug. 9. On the 78th anniversary of Liberation Day, which falls on Aug. 15, the luncheon was prepared to put into practice the President's usual idea that "the state is responsible for sacrifices for the country to the end." The South Korean military honor guard and military band welcomed independence fighters and their bereaved families who attended the luncheon with the best protocol. Patriot Kim Young-kwan; Kim Mi, Kim K
By Kim Ji-eun Minister of Foreign Affairs Park Jin, who is on a tour of Africa, held a phone call with U.S. Secretary of State Antony J. Blinken in Ethiopia on August 9 (local time) to discuss major issues, including preparations for the Korea-U.S.-Japan summit. The two ministers agreed that the Korea-U.S.-Japan summit, which will be held at Camp David on Aug. 18 will be a historical turning point for trilateral cooperation, and agreed that Seoul and Washington will continue to cooperate closely to hold a successful summit. Minister Park said, "We hope that the summit will strengthen security
By Kim Ji-eun Ambassador and Deputy Minister for Public Diplomacy Hong Seok-in held the second briefing on the 2023 Saemangeum World Scout Jamboree for the diplomatic corps in Korea on August 7. In the briefing, attended by officials from the diplomatic missions of 78 countries in Korea, Ambassador and Deputy Minister Hong explained contingency plan in response to Typhoon Khanun moving northward, and listened to the opinions of the diplomatic missions in Korea. In the briefing, participants expressed appreciation to the Korean government for making a difficult decision in a timely manner and t
By Lee Kap-soo Minister for Trade Dukgeun Ahn held talks with Ecuador’s recently appointed Production, Foreign Trade, Investments and Fisheries Minister Daniel Legarda Touma on August 9 via videoconferencing to discuss measures to further the Korea-Ecuador Strategic Economic Cooperation Agreement (SECA) negotiation progress and strengthen bilateral cooperation in trade, investment and supply chain. The two countries broke the six-year hiatus in July last year by resuming Korea-Ecuador SECA negotiations in Seoul, followed by four official negotiation rounds and multiple sessions. During the tra
By Kim Ji-eun Foreign Minister Park Jin hosted a "Korea Night" reception event in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia on the evening of his trip to Africa on Aug. 8. The "Korea Night" event was attended by more than 200 people, including Ethiopian Public Service Chairman (Korea-Ethiopia Friendship Association), Ethics and Anti-Corruption Chairman, Health Minister, House International Relations Chairman, African Union (AU) Education, Science and Technology Innovation Commissioner. In a welcoming speech, Minister Park said, "As a global hub contributing to freedom, peace, and prosperity around the world, Sout
By Lee Kap-soo The Jamboree K-pop performance, which will mark the end of the 2023 Saemangeum World Scout Jamboree, will be held at the Seoul World Cup Stadium (Sangam Stadium) in Mapo-gu, Seoul, for two hours from 7 p.m. on Aug. 11, the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism announced on Aug. 8. Jamboree's closing ceremony, which will end on Aug. 12, will also be held before the performance at the same place. The government and the Jamboree Organizing Committee confirmed on Aug. 8, saying, "The re-change of the concert venue to the Seoul World Cup Stadium is an inevitable decision based on T
By Lee Kap-soo Polish President Andrzej Duda, who was scheduled to visit Korea on Aug. 9, canceled his visit to Korea, a diplomatic source said on Aug. 8. The diplomatic source said, "I know there is a change in the situation at home and abroad. President Duda's attendance at the closing ceremony of the 2023 Saemangeum World Scout Jamboree and meetings with major domestic figures and defense entrepreneurs were all canceled." President Duda's cancellation of his visit to Korea also seems to have affected by South Korea's disruption to Jamboree and Typhoon Kanun's penetration into the Korean Pen
By Kayla lee LG Electronics invites consumers from around the globe to experience its latest innovations at IFA 2023 in Berlin, Germany (September 1-5). Under the theme of Sustainable Life, Joy for All, the company will introduce the LG Sustainable Village and an evolved ecosystem of efficient, convenient and sustainable products and solutions designed to help create a better life for people and the planet. During IFA 2023, visitors to LG’s booth in Hall 18 at Messe Berlin can discover the advanced, eco-minded features and functions of the company’s newest offerings and learn about its compreh
By Lee Kap-soo Ourhome Vietnam Corporation (Vietnam Ourhome Co., Ltd.) announced on Aug. 7 that it has signed a business agreement with Vietnamese education company FPT Education to operate student restaurant food and beverage services. FPT Education is an education-related affiliate of FPT Group, Vietnam's largest information and communication technology conglomerate. It started the establishment of private schools in 2020 with the aim of fostering global IT talent, and currently operates 10 schools across Vietnam. Major officials, including Kim Hwan-sun, head of Ourhome's overseas business d
By Anna Kim The 2023 Hangang River Festival Summer runs from Aug. 4-20 by the river and at eight surrounding parks, the Hangang Project Headquarters of the Seoul Metropolitan Government said on Aug. 1 The festival, held four times a year every season, features programs featuring appeal and enjoyment that can only be experienced by the river, the headquarters said. The theme of the summer edition is "Wise summer vacation at the Hangang River" with 24 events including those of culture and performing arts, sports and interactive programs, and leisure and relaxation. The city government aims to of
By Lee Kap-soo Daejeon University (President Nam Sang-ho) LINC 3.0 Project Group, led by Director Lee Young-hwan, announced on Aug. 7 that it recently signed a business agreement with the local company ARAR (Automation Technology Joint Stock Company) in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam for revitalizing the local economy and supporting the stable growth of young people through mutual exchange and cooperation. Through this agreement, the two organizations will cooperate in various fields, such as △ establishing and operating a shared cooperative network with universities, local companies, and local gov
By Kayla lee At the conclusion of the Holy Mass for World Youth Day, Pope Francis expressed his deep gratitude for every person who made “this grace-filled event” possible and announced South Korea as the next WYD site in 2027. Pope Francis announced on Aug. 6 at the end of the 37th Lisbon event in Portugal that the World Youth Day, the largest faith festival for Catholics, will be held in Seoul, South Korea, in 2027. Catholic World Youth Day was last held in Manila, the Philippines in 1995 in Asia, and millions of believers attended the event under the leadership of Pope John Paul II. The Lis
By Anna Kim Minister of Foreign Affairs Park Jin will visit three African countries and Dubai from August 8 to 14, Deputy Spokesperson Ahn Eun-ju of the ministry said on Aug. 3. The purposes of Foreign Minister Park’s visit to Africa are to actively seek support of Africa, where the largest number of the member states of the Bureau International des Expositions (BIE) is located, for Korea’s bid to host World Expo 2030 in Busan, and to discuss how to encourage the participation of African countries’ high-level officials in the Korea-Africa Summit scheduled for next year. Foreign Minister Park w
By Lee Kap-soo Regarding the 2023 Saemangeum World Scout Jamboree where heat waves are causing a series of heat-activated patients, President Yoon Suk-yeol ordered, "Add a tourism program to make it a memorable event." President Yoon, who is on vacation on Aug. 5, ordered Prime Minister Han Duck-soo and Minister of Public Administration and Security Lee Sang-min to "add a tourism program to see Korea's industry, culture, history and nature urgently," Kim Eun-hye, senior presidential secretary for public relations, said in a written briefing. President Yoon requested cooperation from cities and
By Anna Kim Korea’s Trade, Industry and Energy Minister Lee Chang-yang and Minister for Trade Dukgeun Ahn met with the House Committee on Ways and Means, led by Congressman Jason Smith, on July 31 in Seoul to discuss the U.S. Inflation Reduction Act (IRA), CHIPS and Science Act, energy cooperation and other Korea-U.S. industrial and trade issues. Meanwhile, Korea’s Trade, Industry and Energy Vice Minister Jang Young-jin held a briefing session on Korea-U.S. industrial technology R&D on August 1 (local time) in San Francisco and conveyed the Korean government’s stance on international coope