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On Wednesday, September 30, a ceremony to celebrate the 70th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between Spain and the Republic of Korea took place at the Casino of Madrid.
To commemorate this important event, the book "Spain and Korea. Towards a New Strategic Partnership", edited by Mr. Alvaro Hidalgo and Mr. Alfonso Ojeda. The presentation of the book was made by His Excellency the Ambassador of the Republic of Korea, Mr. Hong-jo Chun, who briefly described the content of the book, pointing out that it is divided into three parts: first, the evolution and evaluation of the 70 years of relations between Spain and Korea and the perspectives for the future; second, the economic relations between the two countries; and finally, the cultural relations and human exchanges between Spain and Korea. It is a very valuable text both for its content and for the level of the people who contributed to its writings. Of the 30 articles it contains, 15 were written by Korean authors and 15 by Spanish authors. The book was prefaced by the Ministers of Foreign Affairs of both countries and among the authors of the articles are the former Prime Minister, Mr. José Luis Rodríguez Zapatero, the former Secretary General of the UN, Mr. Ban Ki-moon, the former Rector of Hankuk University of Foreign Studies, Mr. Park Chul, the President of the Korean Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Mr. Park Yongmaan, the President of the Spanish Chamber of Commerce, Mr. José Luis Bonet Ferrer. Mr. Alvaro Hidalgo, President of the Spanish Center for Korean Research and one of the book's editors, also took the floor.
At the 70th anniversary commemoration ceremony, the former Prime Minister, Mr. José Luis Rodríguez Zapatero, was present. In his speech, he expressed his great admiration for Korea and highlighted the fact that in the 7 decades of diplomatic relations there has never been any conflict between the two countries, and acknowledged that it is thanks to Korea that Spain enjoys the status of permanent guest at the G20. The Ambassador was accompanied at the ceremony by, among others, the Secretary of State for Trade, Ms. Xiana Méndez, the Secretary General for Industry and SMEs, Mr. Raúl Blanco, the Director General for North America, Eastern Europe, Asia and the Pacific of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, European Union and Cooperation, Ms. Ana María Salomon, and the President of the Spain-Korea Chamber of Commerce, Mr. Javier Cremades.
Also participating in the event through video conferences were the Minister of Foreign Affairs, European Union and Cooperation, Ms. Arancha González Laya; the former Minister of Foreign Affairs, Josep Piqué, and the President of the Spanish Chamber of Commerce, Mr. José Luis Bonet.
Standing firm in the face of crisis as a global hub for cutting-edge technologies and innovation.
Special Contribution by
Kwon Pyung-oh
President and CEO of KOTRA
KOTRA President and CEO offers insight on the current status of Korea in the face of the COVID-19 pandemic and the country’s next steps to position itself as a global hub for high-tech and innovation.
Rapidly changing international trade and investment environment
Through 127 overseas offices in 84 countries around the world, KOTRA closely monitors the global market trends in real time. After some observation, I can clearly see the discrepancy between life before and after COVID-19. In other words, I feel as if we are currently in the midst of a vicious typhoon.
On July 7, 2020, the 21st Economic Cooperation Committee Spain - Korea was held, organized by the Spanish Chamber of Commerce, together with the Secretary of State for Trade/ICEX and the Spanish Confederation of Business Organizations (CEOE) in collaboration with the Korea Chamber of Commerce and Industry (KCCI).
The session provided the opportunity to learn first-hand about the possibilities of cooperation between Spain and Korea in the current situation post Covid 19, offering information from experts from both countries, as well as from the Spanish and Korean Ambassadors, among others.
On 17 June our Corporate member IE University organizes in collaboration with the Spanish Chambers of Commerce network in Asia, an online seminar inviting Susana Malcorra, Dean of the IE School of Global and Public Affairs.
The future brings us challenges of diverse types beyond the economic reconstruction needed after the coronavirus. Dean Malcorra will cover:
• How do we envision new globalization?
• How do we build a more sustainable world?
• How do we leverage from the disruption produced by new technologies?
• How do we design a new social compact?
These and more angles will be covered, as we look into the near and medium-term future.
Date: Wednesday, 17 June 2020
Place: Zoom Online Webinar
Time: 17:00 – 18:00 JST (KOREA TIME)
Language: English
Registration Deadline: Wednesday, 17 May, 12:00pm
More info:
https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSfqdBefwPKiJ58ko_9eAf0t2igd-a7VpcldmXMm4AhR96gHyA/viewform
Korea Foundation
VIRTUAL DIALOGUE
Date & Time: June 17, 17:00 (Korea) / June 17, 10:00 (Stockholm)
Organizer: Korea Foundation (KF)
Topic: COVID-19 Across the Globe: The Cases of Shouth Korea and Sweden
More Info:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?
Gov't lowers 2020 growth forecast to 0.1%
Author: Lee Kyung-min
Date: June, 1st 2020
Source: The Korea Times
https://www.koreatimes.co.kr/www/biz/2020/06/367_290494.html
The government said Monday that it will invest 76 trillion won ($61.9 billion) by 2025 to strengthen digitization, eco-friendly growth and social safety nets, in a sweeping move to reinvigorate the economy hit by the COVID-19 pandemic.
The Minister of Industry, Trade and Tourism, Reyes Maroto, and the Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism of the Republic of Korea, Yangwoo Park, have signed the Action Plan of the Biannual Tourism Program 2020-2021 to promote cooperation between governments and strengthen tourism relations between the two countries. This plan gives continuity to the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signed during the King and Queen's State visit to Seoul last October, which aims to strengthen bilateral cooperation in the field of tourism.
Park Yang-woo, Minister of Culture of the Republic of Korea and Jorge Salaverry, Secretary General of the Spain-Korea Chamber of Commerce, at the Korean stand at FITUR.Park Yang-woo, Minister of Culture of the Republic of Korea and Jorge Salaverry, Secretary General of the Spain-Korea Chamber of Commerce, at the Korean stand at FITUR.
Queen Letizia visits the South Korean stand at the Fitur 2020 International Tourism Fair during its inauguration in Ifema, Madrid, this Wednesday. EFE
The country, which records a significant increase in international visitors with 15.3 million tourists in 2018, will boost promotion of the destination by adding its brand to that of FITUR. His presence as a partner coincides with the 70th anniversary of the beginning of diplomatic relations between South Korea and Spain. South Korea is currently the third largest issuing market in Asia for Spain. It is a very attractive and a safe destination, with modern, high-quality infrastructures and a good public transportation network.
The next edition of the International Tourism Fair, FITUR 2020, presents South Korea as a partner country, a destination that has experienced a significant increase in the number of foreign visitors, which in 2018 reached 15.3 million tourists, 15.1% more than the previous year. The Asian country also has a growing attraction for Spaniards, as last year there were 27,314 who came to visit, 17.2% more than in 2017.
The presence of South Korea as a FITUR Partner country establishes a wide field of joint action in the most significant areas of promotion and communication of this great event of the tourism industry which, organized by IFEMA will celebrate its 40th edition from 22nd to 26th January 2020 at Feria de Madrid. Furthermore, the Asian country's joining forces with FITUR comes at the best of times, precisely when it celebrates the 70th anniversary of the start of diplomatic relations between South Korea and Spain.
South Korean mobile phone operator KT Corp. announced on Monday that its hotel service robot, enabled by artificial intelligence (AI) and other cutting-edge technologies, made its official debut at a hotel in Seoul.
The IA hotel robot, called N bot, began official service at the Novotel Ambassador Seoul Dongdaemun Hotels & Residences to serve guests in about 100 rooms, according to KT Corp.
KT explained that it has applied its latest technologies - including 3D location mapping, autonomous driving and an AI camera - to develop the robot.
The Phoenix Snow Park is a recreational and vacation complex, built in nature at 700 m above sea level. It has hotels, aparthotels, ski slopes and golf course, among many other facilities. Just two hours from Seoul, it is a perfect resort for mountain recreations and was designated a Tourist Site in 1999. It is open all year round, but becomes very crowded in winter, particularly during the ski season.
A beautiful place where ancient and modern culture coexist. It is full of galleries, traditional craft shops, antique shops, traditional tea shops and restaurants.
"King Philip VI inaugurates the Spain-Republic of Korea Business Meeting in Seoul"
The Spain-Republic of Korea Business Meeting was held in Seoul, South Korea, from 23rd to 25th October. A total of thirty-three Spanish companies participated in the event. For a day and a half each of them held meetings with Korean companies.
The Business Meeting, which coincided with the State Visit of H.M. King Felipe VI to the Republic of Korea, was inaugurated jointly by the King and the President of Korea, Moon Jae-in. The previous night the King and Queen Letizia were hosted by the President of Korea and his wife with a State Dinner in the so-called Blue House, seat of the Executive and Presidential residence.
Potrero Solar is the first FRV project in Mexico, and is one of the largest photovoltaic projects with bifacial technology in the World.
Spain | El País
Felipe VI and Queen Letizia travel to Seoul on a state visit with a strong economic profile
The Kings will make a trip to Asia next week with two fronts. One is the enthronement of the Emperor of Japan; the other, a state visit to South Korea with a marked economic background. Accompanied by the acting Foreign Minister, Josep Borrell, they depart on Sunday, October 20, towards Tokyo, where they will attend along with other heads of state at the Naruhito throne access ceremony, which will take place on October 22 at the Imperial Palace. And the next day they will fly to the Republic of Korea, where they make a two-day state visit in which the King will participate in a summit with the South Korean president, Moon Jae-in, and will meet with the representatives, among others , from companies like LG Electronics, Hyundai or Samsung.The Kings will make a trip to Asia next week with two fronts. One is the enthronement of the Emperor of Japan; the other, a state visit to South Korea with a marked economic background. Accompanied by the acting Foreign Minister, Josep Borrell, they depart on Sunday, October 20, towards Tokyo, where they will attend along with other heads of state at the Naruhito throne access ceremony, which will take place on October 22 at the Imperial Palace. And the next day they will fly to the Republic of Korea, where they make a two-day state visit in which the King will participate in a summit with the South Korean president, Moon Jae-in, and will meet with the representatives, among others , from companies like LG Electronics, Hyundai or Samsung.
The United Kingdom and South Korea signed a free trade agreement on Thursday that will allow them to continue trading freely after Britain's departure from the European Union, scheduled for 31 October.
South Korean Trade Minister Yoo Myung-hee met her British counterpart, Liz Truss, in London to sign this treaty to protect trade between the two countries.
Preparing for the imminent arrival of Brexit, which Prime Minister Boris Johnson has promised to carry out on schedule with or without a divorce agreement with Brussels, the UK has so far signed 13 trade agreements.
The country, which registers a significant increase in international visitors with 15.3 million tourists in 2018, will boost the promotion of the destination by adding its brand to that of FITUR.
FITUR partner presence coincides with the 70th anniversary of the beginning of diplomatic relations between South Korea and Spain
South Korea is currently the third largest issuing market in Asia for Spain. A very attractive and safe destination, with modern and high quality infrastructures, as well as a good public transport network.
The next edition of the International Tourism Fair, FITUR 2020, presents South Korea as a partner country, a destination that has experienced a significant increase in the number of foreign visitors, and that in 2018 reached 15.3 million tourists, 15.1% more than the previous year. The Asian country also has a growing attraction for Spaniards, since last year 27,314 people came to visit it, 17.2% more than in 2017.
The K-Pop has its origins in the Korean soap operas, there are those who consider this term as a genre, and others who point out that it is only the origin that gives identity to the existing pop genre, however, one of its peculiarities lies in the mixture of styles such as soul, trap, hip hop rock, R & B, funk, etc.. Where the audiovisual aspects and the aesthetics of its representatives is specific.
Each city has an emblematic tower. In Seoul, the capital of Korea, is the Seoul N Tower. It is located on top of Namsan Mountain, in the heart of Seoul. You can get there by funicular railway or on foot, and enjoy the romantic night view of Seoul.
More info: https://es.wikipedia.org/wiki/N_Seoul_Tower
Robots are joining the workforce around the world. But although it is evident that their numbers are increasing, it may be difficult to determine which countries are leading their implementation.
The most common measure is that used each year by the International Federation of Robotics (IFR): the number of industrial robots per 10,000 manufacturing workers in each country. According to the latest estimate of the IFR, the world average in 2017 was 85 robots per 10,000 workers, representing an increase of 15% over the previous year.
The Boryeong Mud Festival is held at Daecheon Beach, the largest beach on Korea's west coast. As the name suggests, this festival focuses on mud, offering many programs such as games, marathons, mud slides and much more!
More information: http://boryeongmudfestival.com/
“The Korean gastronomic days were inaugurated with a gala dinner and a mini concert”
The Korean Embassy in Spain inaugurated on Monday, June 24, the Korean Gastronomic Days. The opening ceremony consisted on a formal dinner and a mini concert of traditional Korean music and took place at the Gran Meliá Palacio de los Duques Hotel. Ambassador Mr. Hong-Chun was accompanied by a select group of guests from Korea that included senior officials from the Government of Spain and representatives of large Spanish companies operating in Korea. Among them was Mr. Javier Cremades, president of the Spain-Korea Chamber of Commerce. The guests had an opportunity to savor a tasting menu prepared by chef Jong-hun Lee who currently manages the kitchen of the Sheraton Seoul D Cube City Hotel and explained to the diners what each of the different dishes consist of.
The Korean Cultural Center in Spain in collaboration with the Ministry of Culture, Sport and Tourism of South Korea celebrates next Saturday 29 June at 12.00 pm the K-POP Competition in Spain 2019, which will take place at the Teatro EDP Gran Vía (Calle Gran Vía, 66, 28012 Madrid).
This is an international competition that selects the best groups and soloists in the categories of non-Korean singing and dancing, to participate in the final in South Korea. On this occasion, the eighth edition of this competition will be held in Spain, and 10 pre-selected groups from different cities in Spain will compete for a first prize, with which they will be able to participate in an additional online round and compete with the winners from other countries. They will be able to travel to the city of Changwon in South Korea, where the final will be held. This year's winners will be given great cash gifts and prizes. In addition, drawings will be held among the public.
At the beginning of the Competition, a video of the band MONSTA X will be shown greeting and encouraging the public, coinciding with the concert they will offer on 29 June in the Palacio Vistalegre.
Mr. Jorge Navea, CEO of Berge Auto, talks with the Ambassador of Korea, Mr. Hong-jo Chun, during the conference given by the Ambassador on June 12 at the Westin Palace.
The Ambassador of Korea, Mr. Hong-jo Chun exchanges gifts with Mr. Jesús Martín, President of AEDHE.
On Tuesday 5 June the Henares Businessmen's Association (AEDHE) received the visit of His Excellency the Ambassador of the Republic of Korea in Spain, Mr. Hong-jo Chun. The initial meeting took place at the headquarters of the Association which was attended by 20 companies very interested in learning more about Korea and the business opportunities that this country offers to Spanish companies.
South Korea's exports reached a new record last year, with 605.47 billion dollars, 5.5% more than in 2017, the Ministry of Commerce, Industry and Energy reported today.
According to official data, South Korean imports reached 534,990 million dollars in 2018, 11.8% more than in 2017, with a trade balance of 70,480 million dollars, the tenth consecutive year with a positive trade balance.
The South Korean government has confirmed this Thursday, April 4, that by 2022 it aims to have 23 million tourists from all over the world, which is expected to provide 960,000 jobs in the tourism and industry sectors.
Read more : https://en.yna.co.kr/view/AEN20190402006100320?section=culture/arts-culture
South Korean branches of foreign banks saw their profits grow last year by 27.4 percent over the previous year, thanks to strong interest income, according to monitoring data from the Financial Supervision Service released on Tuesday. Data from 38 global banks operating here, such as HSBC Bank, raised 867.3 billion won ($764 million) in 2018, an increase of 27.4 percent from 186.6 billion won the previous year, according to the data.
Read more : http://www.koreaherald.com/view.php?ud=20190402000630
South Korea and the United States have this week become the first two countries in the world to turn on the commercial networks of the new mobile technology 5G, which has coincided with the release of the first smartphones that can connect to these networks.
Read more:
South Korea's Trade, Industry and Energy Minister Sung Yun-mo has held a meeting with his Chinese counterpart, Miao Wei, to exchange ideas on the expansion of bilateral ties in the emerging industries sector, including the one of vehicles of cells of hydrogen, according to it has said, this Friday, his ministry.
On March 29th at 9:00 a.m., Madrid Network is organizing together with the Chamber of Commerce Spain - Korea and Cremades & Calvo Sotelo Abogados, a day in which the Commercial and Investment Opportunities between Spain and Korea will be discussed.
The shareholders of Kia Motors Corp. have agreed, this Friday, to appoint the executive vice-president of the Hyundai Motor Group, Chung Eui-sun, as the director of the group's main subsidiary.
In various places across the country we can find this party. In the spring, from Seoul, Gyenongiu, Jinhae to Jeju, cherries bloom and Cerezo festivals begin, reflecting the identity of each city. In the cherry tunnels, harmonized with the topography and beautifully created parks, you can find countless cherry trees.
The Korean Cultural Center in collaboration with the Embassy of Argentina presents from April 2 to 10 the first edition of the Film Series: KOREAN & LATIN AMERICAN FILM SCREENING, with Argentina as the guest country.
To celebrate the 100th anniversary of the First March Movement that took place on March 1, 1919 with the Declaration of Independence of Korea before the Japanese Empire, the Embassy of the Republic of Korea in Spain will offer the `Spring Concert 'to take place on Wednesday, March 27 at 7:30 p.m. in the Sony Auditorium of the Reina Sofía School of Music, interpreted by the South Koreans Min Ji Kim (cello), Hayang Park (viola) and Seungju Mun (clarinet), students of the Reina Sofia School of Music and the Spanish teacher of the same School, Enrique Lapaz.
The Spanish's-Korean Chamber of Commerce organized last Thursday, February 7, a breakfast with Jerónimo Gracián, Investments Director of Kotra, Korea's commercial agency, as the principal exponent.
The meeting was attended by Ambassador Hong-jo Chun, as well as representatives of leading companies in their sector, such as Iberdrola, Bankia, Korean Air or TmaxSoft. They also count with the participation of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs represented by Laura Carratalá, and Antonio García Rebollar, Training Director of ICEX. The meeting was chaired by Javier Cremades, as President of the Chamber, accompanied by Juan Luís Cebrián, who was also invited to the event.
It is a sanctuary where they kept the ancestral tables of the kings and queens. It is one of the most refined and magnificent constructions. It is a unique building built with wood that is the largest in the world. It perfectly represents the modest character of Confucianism.
"Building a common path" is the motto of the twelfth edition of the Spain-Korea Tribune, which will bring together representatives of civil society, public administrations and the economic and university world of Spain and Korea from 24 to 25 January at the Casa Asia headquarters in Barcelona.
The Spain-Korea Tribune constitutes a platform for dialogue and cooperation whose main objective is to strengthen bilateral relations in the economic, academic and cultural spheres, in addition to exploring opportunities for collaboration and promoting relations between the respective civil societies.
This forum is organised by Casa Asia and the Korea Foundation, and in this twelfth edition it is co-organised by the Hankuk University of Foreing Studies, with the collaboration of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, European Union and Cooperation and the EFE Agency.
Once again Korea is present at the tourism fair FITUR. The Korean stand has been very visited by those attending the fair, partly because of the success of the winter games in Pyeongchang last year.
Korea is increasingly known in Spain and although the flow of Spanish tourists to that country increases, it does not do so with the same pace of Korean tourists who visit Spain each year.
However, a new Korean airline, Asiana, has begun flying between Barcelona and Seoul.
The South Korean capital announced today that in 2024 it will inaugurate a covered macro-recinct to host the country's pop music concerts, popularly known as K-Pop, which will help attract more tourists to the city.
Work to build the so-called Seoul Arena will begin in September 2020 after designating the company that will develop the stadium, the Seoul Metropolitan Government said in a statement.
Samsung Electronics Co., the South Korean technology giant, has been the world's largest publicist last year, said a global consulting firm.
Ad Age presented the top 100 publicists in the world showing that Samsung accumulated $ 11.2 billion in advertising and sales promotion in 2017, an increase of 13 percent compared to a year earlier.
The high spending was to improve the image after the widespread recall in 2016 of its Galaxy Note 7 smartphones due to battery explosions, according to industry observers. It is the first time that Samsung takes the first place on the list.
Landscape hand-woven.
The Korean Cultural Center (Paseo de la Castellana,15) inaugurates the Jogakbo Textile Crafts Exhibition: `Landscape hand-woven´ by Choi Dukjoo, an artist selected by the Center in 2018. The exhibition will be open to thepublic from November 21st to January 11th, 2019 at the Han-ul Gallery at the Centre.
The inauguration date is November 21st, at 19.00 h at the Korean Cultural Center.
Textile crafts Jogakbo
The objective of this event is to create opportunities for Spanish and Korean companies in Spain doing business with Korea and obtain optimal job candidates in a database.
Photo: The Secretary General of the Chamber of Commerce Esspaña-Corea, Jorge Salaverry, received the delegation of TIPA.
On Tuesday, September 4, the Spanish-Korean Chamber of Commerce received a visit from a delegation representing the Korea Technology and Information Promotion Agency for SMEs (TIPA). TIPA is an agency of the Korean government whose primary objective is to increase the competitiveness of Korea's small and medium-sized industry. The delegation was headed by Mr. Cho, Ki-Young, Director of the Planning and Coordination Division. Before visiting Spain, the delegation visited Germany. The objective of the visit was to get to know the environment and current conditions of the Spanish small and medium enterprises, in order to evaluate possibilities of interaction with the Korean small and medium ones. The delegation came with the initial impression that the Spanish economy was very concentrated in the service sector and not so much in the technology sector. Subsequently, on our recommendation, the delegation met with the Centre for Industrial and Technological Development (CDTI). The Spanish-Korean Chamber of Commerce made itself available to TIPA to assist it in whatever it deemed appropriate to the end of boosting contact between Spanish and Korean SMEs.
Photo: “Part of the assistants to the lunch held in REPSOL. Chun Ambassador next to Josu Jon Imaz, REPSOL Managing Director.”
On Monday 16 July, the partners of the Spain-Corea Chamber of Commerce give a welcome lunch to the new Ambassador of Corea in Spain, Hong-jo Chun. The lunch take place in the REPSOL headquarters, accredited partner of the Chamber, who was kind to serve the host with the Managing Director appearance, Josu Jon Imaz.
In her speech of acknowledgement, the Ambassador Chun, emphasized the fact of that the last year the exchange between Corea and Spain achieved the 5 thousand million euros, recovering the level before the economical world crisis of 2008. Similarly, he pointed that the investments have become diversified and that is the impulse of cooperation into new fields like renewable energies and industry 4.0.
The Korean Culture Center (Paseo de la Castellana, 15) in collaboration with the Álvaro Alcázar Gallery will inaugurate the abstract art exhibition. “Detengámonos”, a sample of cultural exchange and dialogues between the artists Rafael Conogar and Jang Jae Cheol. The opening will take place on 11 October at 19.00h in the Han-ul Room of the Korean Culture Center, and it will remain in the Center until 16 November.
On Saturday, July 7 at 12:00 noon, the 7th edition of the K-POP Contest took place in Spain at the Luz Philips Gran Vía Theater (Calle Gran Vía, 66, 28012 Madrid).
Deoksugung, also known as Gyeongun-gung, Deoksugung Palace, or Deoksu Palace, is a walled compound of palaces in Seoul that was inhabited by members of Korea's royal family during the Joseon monarchy until colonial period around the turn of the 20th century. It is one of the "Five Grand Palaces" built by the kings of the Joseon Dynasty. The buildings are of varying styles, including some of natural cryptomeria wood, painted wood, and stucco. Some buildings were built of stone to replicate western palatial structures.
In addition to the traditional palace buildings, there are also forested gardens, a statue of King Sejong the Great and the National Museum of Art, which holds special exhibitions. The palace is located near City Hall Station.
Read more. Click link: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Deoksugung
