The New Zealand Embassy has enjoyed a long relationship with the Kyobo building in Gwanghwamun but, that relationship will end when they move into their new digs later this week.
“With an expansion of our diplomatic presence in Seoul, the time had come to look for a slightly larger embassy that would better suit our needs in the coming years,” explained New Zealand Ambassador Richard Mann to The Korea Herald.
The ambassador is delighted to be moving to the historical diplomatic quarter of Jeong-dong, he said, adding, “We hope that our move there will add to the diplomatic character of this traditional neighborhood.”
Currently, the residence of the United States ambassador and the embassies of the United Kingdom, Canada, Russia and the Netherlands call the historic district their home.
The new New Zealand Embassy will look out over the old Russian legation park and Deoksu Palace.
Besides being very green, the area’s main attribute is its central location.
As for a representational office of his government in Seoul, the chancery is still within walking distance of the Blue House, the Foreign Ministry and other government ministries, as well as having good access to subway and bus routes.
“The other important thing about an embassy is that it is fit for purpose,” Mann said. “We will achieve this in Jeong-dong with better conference and meeting facilities, as well as the ability to provide a good service to the Korean public and New Zealand citizens.”
The big move starts at noon on Thursday and the embassy will reopen at 9 a.m. on Aug. 2.
Another big plus for everyone is a larger consular section.
To make the embassy feel more like home, Mann plans to feature New Zealand designs including artwork, fittings and carpets.
The official address of the chancery, which will house all the branches of its diplomatic mission such as education, trade and military -- except for tourism -- is the Jeong-dong Building, Level 8 (West Tower), 15-5 Jeong-dong, Jung-gu.
2010년 7월 25일 일요일
G20 to discuss safety net and development
Senior officials from the Group of 20 nations recently moved forward in setting the agenda for their leaders’ summit in November, including a proposed global financial safety net and development assistance.
The sherpas from the advanced and emerging economies met in Seoul over the past week to plan for the Seoul Summit scheduled for Nov. 11-12.
During the four-day meeting, they discussed previous commitments regarding the framework for sustainable and balanced growth, financial industry regulations and the overhaul of international financial institutions. They also tried to advance new agenda items including the global financial safety net and development.
The meeting, co-chaired by Korean sherpa Rhee Chang-yong and South African sherpa Mandisi Mpahlwa, gathered about 100 senior representatives from the member countries and international organizations.
“The meeting of the sherpas went well in the sense that we were clear about what the agendas are for the Seoul Summit,” Mpahlwa told The Korea Herald after the meeting.
The sherpas from the advanced and emerging economies met in Seoul over the past week to plan for the Seoul Summit scheduled for Nov. 11-12.
During the four-day meeting, they discussed previous commitments regarding the framework for sustainable and balanced growth, financial industry regulations and the overhaul of international financial institutions. They also tried to advance new agenda items including the global financial safety net and development.
The meeting, co-chaired by Korean sherpa Rhee Chang-yong and South African sherpa Mandisi Mpahlwa, gathered about 100 senior representatives from the member countries and international organizations.
“The meeting of the sherpas went well in the sense that we were clear about what the agendas are for the Seoul Summit,” Mpahlwa told The Korea Herald after the meeting.
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[Photo News] Kim Yu-na's ice show
World's figure skating queen Kim Yu-na debuted a new exhibition program to "Bulletproof" by La Roux at her ice show in South Korea on Sunday, according to news reports.The show titled, "2010 All That Skate Summer," is the first produced by the management company she recently created, All That Sports.
During the ice show, she performed with her idol, five-time world champion Michelle Kwan, in a duet to Mariah Carey's "Hero," according to the reports.
The management agency, in the meantime, offered apology to news media organizations for failing to hold Yu-na's press conference as scheduled on Friday due to communication problems.
Photos: Yonhap
During the ice show, she performed with her idol, five-time world champion Michelle Kwan, in a duet to Mariah Carey's "Hero," according to the reports.
The management agency, in the meantime, offered apology to news media organizations for failing to hold Yu-na's press conference as scheduled on Friday due to communication problems.
Photos: Yonhap
Hyundai-Kia tops China’s SUV market
Hyundai Kia Automotive Group was rated as the top sellers of sport utility vehicles in China during the second quarter of the year, industry sources said.
Hyundai Motor Co. and its affiliate Kia Motors Corp. sold a combined 51,908 SUVs in the Chinese market in the April-June period, outpacing Japan’s Toyota Motor Corp., which sold 42,196 SUV units, according to the sources.
In the first half of the year, Hyundai and Kia sold a total of 90,534 SUV units in China, accounting for 15.7 percent of the Chinese SUV market.
However, they came in second to Toyota, which sold 92,489 SUV units in the January-June period, accounting for 16.1 percent, the sources said.
Hyundai and Kia sell four compact SUV models, including the Tuscon and Sportage, in the world‘s largest car market.
The Korean auto manufacturers are planning to add a new SUV model to their lineup later this year to compete with other foreign rivals in China.
Meanwhile, union workers at Hyundai Motor Co., voted Saturday to approve a new wage agreement, avoiding a strike over annual salary negotiations for the second straight year, the company and the union said.
Hyundai Motor Co. and its affiliate Kia Motors Corp. sold a combined 51,908 SUVs in the Chinese market in the April-June period, outpacing Japan’s Toyota Motor Corp., which sold 42,196 SUV units, according to the sources.
In the first half of the year, Hyundai and Kia sold a total of 90,534 SUV units in China, accounting for 15.7 percent of the Chinese SUV market.
However, they came in second to Toyota, which sold 92,489 SUV units in the January-June period, accounting for 16.1 percent, the sources said.
Hyundai and Kia sell four compact SUV models, including the Tuscon and Sportage, in the world‘s largest car market.
The Korean auto manufacturers are planning to add a new SUV model to their lineup later this year to compete with other foreign rivals in China.
Meanwhile, union workers at Hyundai Motor Co., voted Saturday to approve a new wage agreement, avoiding a strike over annual salary negotiations for the second straight year, the company and the union said.
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U.S. teens learn Korean in program
U.S. teenagers are taking part in an intensive Korean language course in a classroom.
This is not out of the norm at Sogang University’s Korean Language Education Center, but these students, all of whom are 15-18 years old, are here as part of a special program sponsored by the U.S. State Department.
Each student had their own unique reason for coming to Korea and joining the National Security Language Initiative for Youth.
“I started watching Korean dramas and listening to Korean music and I got tired of watching them with subtitles,” said Zaneh Williams from Maryland.
“This is a chance to see the world on my own and have a bit more independence,” said Gabrielle Hanley from Virginia.
The students study Korean for four hours in the afternoon, with a strict “no English” policy.
Learning Korean is “fun, but really intensive. We learned reading and writing in about a week,” said Gabrielle.
But she said understanding Korean vocabulary and sentences is the hardest part.
Even students in the beginner classes have already mastered Hangeul, the Korean alphabet.
These students are not only here for Korean, but also to learn the culture.
“We’re partnered up with university students around Seoul to take a group of us out to different places,” said Gabrielle.
This is not out of the norm at Sogang University’s Korean Language Education Center, but these students, all of whom are 15-18 years old, are here as part of a special program sponsored by the U.S. State Department.
Each student had their own unique reason for coming to Korea and joining the National Security Language Initiative for Youth.
“I started watching Korean dramas and listening to Korean music and I got tired of watching them with subtitles,” said Zaneh Williams from Maryland.
“This is a chance to see the world on my own and have a bit more independence,” said Gabrielle Hanley from Virginia.
The students study Korean for four hours in the afternoon, with a strict “no English” policy.
Learning Korean is “fun, but really intensive. We learned reading and writing in about a week,” said Gabrielle.
But she said understanding Korean vocabulary and sentences is the hardest part.
Even students in the beginner classes have already mastered Hangeul, the Korean alphabet.
These students are not only here for Korean, but also to learn the culture.
“We’re partnered up with university students around Seoul to take a group of us out to different places,” said Gabrielle.
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FIFA praises Korea’s 2022 World Cup bid
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| Harold Mayne-Nicholls (right), head of the FIFA inspection team, holds up a Korean soccer team jersey imprinted with his name that was presented to him Sunday by the Bidding Committee for the 2022 World Cup Korea. Lee Sang-sup/The Korea Herald |
A FIFA team inspecting Korea’s bid for the 2022 World Cup on Sunday praised the country’s preparation efforts and passion to hold the global event after completing their four-day evaluation trip.
The five-member team, led by Chilean Football president Harold Mayne-Nicholls, arrived in Seoul on Thursday as part of their two-month tour of all the nine bidders vying to host the 2018 and 2022 World Cup.
“I was here for the 2002 World Cup. After eight years, I was able to see the legacy is not only the stadiums but seems to be on every body in this country,” said the head of the FIFA team.
Joint military exercise begins in East Sea
North Korea warns of 'revengeful holy war'
South Korea and the United States kicked off a four-day joint military exercise in the East Sea on Sunday in a display of force against North Korea accused of launching a torpedo attack on the corvette Cheonan in March.
The two allies have mobilized some of their key military assets, including the 97,000-ton aircraft carrier USS George Washington and four F-22 stealth fighter jets, for the maritime and air exercise, codenamed “Invincible Spirit.”
Apparently unnerved by the drill intended to send a clear warning message to the communist state, North Korea threatened Saturday to begin a “revengeful holy war.”
South Korea and the United States kicked off a four-day joint military exercise in the East Sea on Sunday in a display of force against North Korea accused of launching a torpedo attack on the corvette Cheonan in March.
The two allies have mobilized some of their key military assets, including the 97,000-ton aircraft carrier USS George Washington and four F-22 stealth fighter jets, for the maritime and air exercise, codenamed “Invincible Spirit.”
Apparently unnerved by the drill intended to send a clear warning message to the communist state, North Korea threatened Saturday to begin a “revengeful holy war.”
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