Herald Media Group to co-host Africa Day 2025
Herald Media Group will co-host Africa Day 2025 Korea in collaboration with the African Group of Ambassadors representing 19 countries and the Korea-Africa Foundation, under the theme "Building Bridges, Creating Opportunities."
The event will highlight progress in economic diplomacy with a business forum and a cultural gala in the evening.
The first session, titled "Korea-Africa Business Forum," will explore pathways and strategies for mutual growth amid global uncertainties and supply chain disruptions.
After opening remarks by co-hosts, Choi Jin-young, CEO of Herald Media Group, and Ambassador Chafik Rachadi of Morocco, who is also dean of the AGA, Deputy Minister of Trade Park Jongwon will deliver a congratulatory address.
Ambassador Kais Darragi of Tunisia will moderate the panel discussion, "Korea-Africa Synergy in an Era of Disruption," featuring experts from Africa and South Korea — notably including Ambassador and professor Emmy Jerono Kipsoi of Kenya.
The second session, titled "Africa Day Celebration," will commemorate African unity and friendship with Korea, beginning with a performance by the Africa Insight Champion Choir to showcase Korea–Africa musical harmony.
Kim Young-chae, president of the Korea-Africa Foundation, and Rachadi will deliver welcoming remarks, followed by celebratory speeches from South Korea's Ambassador for Public Diplomacy Jung Kihong.
A traditional costume fashion show will feature African and Korean creations by members of the diplomatic corps and co-hosts.
Title: Africa Day 2025 Korea-Africa Business Forum
Date: May 21, 2025 (4:30-8 p.m.)
Venue: Grand Ballroom, Grand Hyatt Seoul
sanjaykumar@heraldcorp.com
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Korea Herald
2 days ago
- Korea Herald
MBC's decision to broadcast Disney+'s 'Big Bet' met with internal dissent
After airing 'Moving' in January, TV network increasingly looks to fill slots with content from streaming services MBC, one of South Korea's leading television networks, is facing mounting backlash from its own producers following the decision to broadcast Disney+ Korea's hit original series "Big Bet," beginning in July. The series, which stars veteran actors Choi Min-sik and Son Suk-ku, originally ran on Disney+ for two seasons between 2022 and 2023. MBC has confirmed that "Big Bet" season 1 will air Fridays and Saturdays at 10 p.m. throughout July, while season 2 will move to a regular Sunday night slot starting in August. The series will retain its original 19+ rating, though MBC said some edits would be needed to meet broadcast review standards. MBC said the broadcast of "Big Bet" reflects its ongoing effort to offer strategic curation of carefully selected, proven programs, adding that it aimed to broaden viewers' content choices. However, the move has triggered significant internal dissent. A total of 53 producers and production staff from MBC's drama division recently issued a joint statement condemning the decision. Via the statement, the producers criticized the management's push to delay its upcoming series — "Judge Lee Han-young" — originally slated for the same time slot as "Big Bet." 'The seriousness of the matter is heightened by the fact that the originally planned drama production was postponed to next year, in order to artificially create a budget surplus for this year,' the statement said. As a result of MBC's decision to air "Big Bet," "Judge Lee Han-young," an adaptation of a popular Naver webtoon, has been pushed back to early 2026. The drama, which features a cast including Ji Sung, Won Jin-ah and Park Hee-soon, follows a judge who, after his unjust demise, returns to the past to deliver righteous judgments. The statement accused MBC of bypassing producers in making the programming decision, and warned of a potential fallout with the series' cast. "Due to the management's decision to schedule 'Big Bet,' 'Judge Lee Han-young' now requires renegotiation with its lead actors,' it read. The producers are demanding a full reconsideration of the "Big Bet" rollout, the restoration of decision-making authority to drama teams, and reforms to what they call profit-centered management practices. Meanwhile, this is not the first time MBC has broadcast content from streaming services to fill its drama slots. In January, the network aired the Disney+ blockbuster "Moving," broadcasting two episodes every Sunday. The strategy reflects an emerging trend in Korean broadcasting, where legacy networks are increasingly looking to partner with streaming platforms to mitigate soaring content production costs and appeal to broader demographics. The shift comes amid growing financial strain across Korea's terrestrial broadcasters. KBS has reported a cumulative net loss of 14.1 billion won ($10,228,768) over the past three years, while SBS posted an operating loss of 19.2 billion won in 2024 -- its first deficit since 2016 -- and MBC's operating profit plunged from 56.6 billion won in 2022 to 6.6 billion won last year.
Korea Herald
7 days ago
- Korea Herald
S. Korean, Japanese biz leaders agree to boost cooperation in AI, chips, CPTPP entry
Business leaders of South Korea and Japan on Wednesday agreed to expand bilateral cooperation in artificial intelligence, semiconductors and other key sectors while supporting Seoul's efforts to join the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP). The agreement was part of a joint statement adopted during the 57th South Korea-Japan Business Conference held in Seoul, which brought together some 300 business and economic representatives from the two countries for an annual two-day meeting that began Tuesday. "On the occasion of the 60th anniversary of the normalization of diplomatic ties (between Seoul and Tokyo), we reaffirm the trust and friendship built over the years and hope to collaborate for the bright future of South Korea, Japan and the world," the Federation of Korean Industries said in a joint statement. Specific areas of cooperation include carbon neutrality, hydrogen energy, AI and semiconductor industries, as well as the bio and health care sectors. They also agreed to collaborate on addressing social challenges, such as the two countries' low birth rates and aging populations. On South Korea's bid to join the CPTPP, the participants agreed to support preliminary measures by relevant organizations to facilitate the move. The CPTPP is a major Indo-Pacific trade pact comprising 12 countries, including Japan, Australia, Canada, Britain and Vietnam, that together accounted for about 15.2 percent of global trade as of 2019. Business leaders from South Korea and Japan have voiced shared concerns over the United States' growing protectionist stance and the escalating US-China rivalry. In response, they emphasized the importance of strengthening bilateral economic cooperation between the two countries. At a press conference following the release of the joint statement, Kim Yoon, co-chairman of the Korea-Japan Economic Association, said, "Trade pressure from the new US administration and China's rapid technological advancement have emerged as major challenges for both Korea and Japan." There appear to be some views suggesting the two countries consider a joint response to US trade pressure, he added. His Japanese counterpart, Yutaka Aso, vice chairman of the Japan-Korea Economic Association, said, "Korea and Japan are not rivals, but partners who need to build a solid foundation for cooperation," citing a growing sense of urgency in both countries over US President Donald Trump's "America First" policies and the prospect of a more assertive China. Asked if he had a message for South Korea's incoming administration, Aso urged the new government to prioritize Korea-Japan relations and push forward necessary reforms. (Yonhap)
Korea Herald
27-05-2025
- Korea Herald
KCCI chair meets Japan PM, calls for closer trade ties
Korea Chamber of Commerce and Industry Chairman Chey Tae-won, who also heads SK Group, met with Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba on Tuesday in Tokyo, calling for close economic cooperation between the two countries. The meeting came as Seoul and Tokyo mark the 60th anniversary of the normalization of diplomatic relations, according to the KCCI. Chey was joined by Park Il-joon, executive vice chairman of KCCI and Lee Hyung-hee, vice chairman of Seoul Chamber of Commerce and Industry and president of SK Supex Council. 'At a time when both Korea and Japan are facing difficulties due to the spread of global protectionism, including reciprocal tariffs from the US, there is a need for the two countries to deepen bilateral economic cooperation,' Chey was quoted as saying to Ishiba, requesting the Japanese government's support and attention for corporate activities for both countries. Chey also asked for Ishiba's interest in the upcoming APEC CEO Summit to be held in Gyeongju, North Gyeongsang Province, in October, hosted by KCCI. He also requested participation from leading Japanese companies. Following the meeting with Ishiba, Chey visited the Japan Chamber of Commerce and Industry, where he met with Chairman Ken Kobayashi. The visit was Chey's first to the JCCI in three years, with discussions centering on the upcoming bilateral chamber meeting and ways to enhance collaboration between the two organizations. The 14th chairs' meeting of the KCCI and JCCI is expected to take place in South Korea later this year. Chey is also expected to attend the 30th Nikkei Forum on the Future of Asia from Thursday to Friday. Last year, he participated as a speaker and stressed the importance of Korea-Japan cooperation.
