To bid farewell to their Korean friends and the Seoul diplomatic corps, Ambassador Torzsa of the Republic of Hungary and Mrs. Katalin Torzsa threw a farewell reception on July 4 at their residence in Seoul. Ambassador Torzsa was a representative diplomat in Seoul well-versed in inter-Korean relations, according to the Seoul diplomatic corps. Many invited guests expressed their sorrow at parting and sincerely hoped that Ambassador Torzsa would serve as Hungary's envoy in Seoul once again.
Luxembourg National Day Includes Luxembourg Hangul Support Night
To commemorate Luxembourg National Day on June 23, the Luxembourg Board of Economic Development in Seoul threw a National Day function including Luxembourg Wine Night and a Support Night for Luxembourg Hangul School in the U-Shell Convention Hall near Ttukseom station, Seoul. From the Seoul diplomatic corps Belgium Ambassador Victor Wei came to the party and Kiswire CEO Hong Yong-chul who serves as Honorary Consul within Korea for Luxembourg was on hand. Additionally, scores of Luxembourg-related foreign businessmen attended in addition to Representative Kim Youn-hee, the Luxembourg Board of Economic Development in Seoul.
Tourism Authority of Thailand to Cater to Increasingly Diverse Korean Travelers' Tastes
By teaming up with the Tourism Authority of Thailand in Seoul, the Embassy of Thailand invited the Seoul diplomatic corps and tourism-related persons to the 4th Thailand Festival 2007 which was held on June 11 at Lotte Hotel Seoul. To cater to increasingly diverse Korean travelers' tastes, it was very peculiar that many sellers from diverse business types in Thailand took part in this year's Festival. This included Phyathai 2 Hospital Co Ltd, Tria Integrative Wellness, International Schools Association of Thailand-ISAT, Alcazar Co Ltd, Tiffany's Show Pattaya Co Ltd, Safari World Public Co Ltd, Siam Niramit, Siam Ocean World Bangkok Co Ltd, King Power International Co Ltd and more.
Czech Artist in Sklo Gallery
An exhibition of Czech glass artists Rene Roubicek, Tomas Hlavicka, Irena Sramkova and a Korean with extensive Czech backgound Dong Wook Kim took place from June 15 to July 29 2007 in gallery Sklo in Seoul. The exhibition Masters of Contemporary Czech Glass Art presented various techniques used by the artists such as hot blowing, casting, cold-working. From the Seoul diplomatic corps Swedish envoy Lars Vargo, Dutch envoy Johannes Bernardus Maria Heinsbroek, and Norwegian envoy Didrik Tonseth were on hand to appreciate masters of the Contemporary Czech Glass Art.
Societe Generale 30th Anniversary
Societe Generale Bank Seoul branch feted its 30th Anniversary on July 3 at downtown Lotte Hotel Seoul. France Ambassador Philippe Thiebaud was on hand with many Societe Generale bankers in Seoul to share in the Societe Generale 30th Anniversary. SG CIB is one of the three core businesses of the Societe Generale Group, alongside Retail Banking and Global Investment Management Services.
NYC & Company opens Seoul Office
NYC & Company - the Convention & Visitors Bureau opened its office in Seoul recently, with a view to attracting more Korean travelers to the city. Mrs. Makiko Matsuda Healy, Director of Asia Pacific Tourism Development at NYC & Company who was on hand at the opening reception on July 2 at Grand Hyatt Seoul, said: "This city changes fast - that's why many people call it a New York minute. And of course, the NYC & Company Travel Trade staff is just a phone call away. We're on the ground in the city that never sleeps, staying on top of all the latest happenings."
Annual Korea America Friendship Night
Annual Korea America Friendship Night, hosted by Korea America Friendship Society, was thrown on June 14 at Grand Hyatt Seoul. President of the Korea America Friendship Society Park Keun has awarded Korea America Friendship Society Awards to SGT Richard A. Kripplebauer, Chaplain (Lt. Col) Paul Cannon, Navy Counselor First Kevin L. Goodman, and Gunnery Sergeant Windle L. Riles. Vice Minister Cho Jungpyo, Foreign Affairs and Trade, said in his congratulating speech: "Korea-US alliance has been contributing as a restraint of war in the Korean Peninsula over the past 50 years. US Ambassador Alexander Vershbow also pointed out during a speech, read on his behalf: "If North Korea keeps 2.13 agreement measures, the United States is ready to provide North Korea with diverse benefits."
Connected Office Solution Launch
From its 2007 Connected Office Day events around the globe, Linksys, a Division of Cisco Systems, Inc., and the recognized leading global manufacturer of voice, wireless, and networking hardware for home, Small Office/Home Office (SOHO) and the small business user, announced a number of products and programs from its Connected Office portfolio that were developed and designed specifically for the small business customer. The Linksys Business Series and Linksys One solutions are components of The Connected Office, a broad portfolio of secure, scalable voice and data solutions built specifically for the growing small business, helping to make it easy to buy, build and manage a network.
Russia's International Role Increased
With a theme "Russia's international role and Economic cooperation increase between Korea and Russia", an outstanding figure of the Russian politics, the head of the Russian Federation Chamber of Industry and Commerce, Yevgeny Primakov, lectured on the evening of June 20 at Lotte Hotel Seoul by means of the Korea International Trade Association (KITA) invitation. Referring to the North Korea's nuclear program, Primakov said: "The best way is that international control is important for the sake of peaceful nuclear use," adding that the resumption of sixway talks holds an important significance.
20th Anniversary of EDCF
This year marks the 20th anniversary of the Economic Development Cooperation Fund (EDCF), meaning that 20 years have passed since Korea went from being a recipient country to a donor country. To commemorate the 20th anniversary of the EDCF, the Ministry of Finance and Economy and the Export- Import Bank of Korea have invited noted experts from bilateral and multilateral development banks to the EDCF International Conference, held on July 4 at the Hotel Shilla, to participate in extensive discussions on aid effectiveness, one of the key issues in development assistance today.
Finance Economy Policy Direction
Now is the juncture when its fund operation is tremendously important since fund's supply scale is increasing such as foreign exchange reserve US$250 billion breakthrough for Korea. Such opinion was revealed by Deputy Prime Minister Kwon O-kyu, MOFE Minister in a breakfast seminar regarding "Finance economy policy direction in an openness era," hosted by a local economic daily Money Today. Touching upon the necessity of finance industry transformation at large, he said that for us as well, there are sufficient development possibility of derivative product and domestic financial institutions must capture still-not preoccupied regions such as Indonesia, India and Vietnam.
