Prime Minister Naoto Kan of Japan offered a renewed apology to South Korea on Tuesday for Japan’s brutal colonial rule, as part of a statement marking the 100th anniversary of his nation’s prewar annexation of the Korean Peninsula.

The time has come for South Korea to improve its diplomacy in the Middle East. Experts say more and more people in the Middle East believe that Korea merely views the region as a market for builders and exporters.

Tetsuya Watanabe, the official in charge of the Cool Japan section at the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry, could not hide his shock at the strides being made by South Korea.

The "Hungry Henrik" team left our comfort zone, the Sweden Pavilion, and took an overcrowded bus to the South Korea Pavilion. I was overwhelmed by the size and the beautiful silver exterior decorated with letters of the Korean alphabet.

Positive economic data alone cannot upgrade the national image. A series of latest episodes in Korea showed that soft images may be more critical in shining the national image than hard data.

“Soft power” challenged Korea’s traditional development paradigm. From the 1960s, authoritarian governments had placed absolute primacy on economic growth. Social and political development was de-prioritized as the entire nation was hitched to an economic locomotive that would convey Korea to the terminus of “advanced nations.”

The U.S. Congress has passed a bill to renew the license for North Korean dissident broadcaster Radio Free Asia on a permanent basis. RFA has brought news and information chiefly about South Korea and the U.S to North Korean people via shortwave.

World taekwondo athletes are gathering in South Korea this week for the 4th World Taekwondo Culture Expo, which kicks off today and runs through July 7 in Muju, North Jeolla Province. Over 1,200 athletes and officials from 30 countries will take part in the annual event sponsored by the World Taekwondo Federation and the Ministry of Culture, Sport and Tourism.