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Belgium

Belgian envoy to host CD release party

By Philip Iglauer

The Belgian Embassy will release a CD of the KBS Symphony Orchestra, which was recorded in September 2011 on the occasion of the 110th anniversary of Korea-Belgium diplomatic relations.

The KBS Symphony Orchestra and the Belgian Embassy joined together in organizing a pair of concerts on Sept. 22 and 23 in commemoration of the establishment of diplomatic relations between Korea and Belgium. The two nations set up diplomatic ties 110 years ago.

The embassy will celebrate the CD release in April with a special performance at Spazio Luce Auditorium in Itaewon.

Under the baton of world-renowned conductor Patrick Davin, the KBS orchestra and cello soloist Didier Poskin of Belgium and Soprano Jang Mi-soon of Korea, who is also famous in Europe, performed 19th-century master cellist Francois Servais last year in September.

Poskin will return to Korea to celebrate the CD release, as well as to teach master courses.

Belgium was one of the first countries to recognize the Republic of Korea in 1948 and supported the fledgling nation in the Korea War in 1950-1953 by dispatching armed forces. Belgium first established relations with Korea in 1901.

Czech Republic Ambassador donates Czech books to HUFS

Czech Ambassador to Korea Jaroslav Olsa, jr. presented a gift of more than 300 books, including some by Czech writers and books on Czech culture and history, at Hankuk University of Foreign Studies (HUFS) Yongin campus, Wednesday.

The book gift also included books published in Czech, but also some on Czech history, politics, literature, art and culture, as well as books English and Korean translations of Czech books.

“The books represent a complete collection covering the whole history of Czech fantastic literature, from its beginnings in the late 19th century until recent bestsellers,“ the Czech Embassy said in a press release. “This gift will enlarge the already a very rich collection of more than 3,000 Czech-language books kept at the HUFS Yongin campus library."

The donation was officially received by HUFS Vice-President Lee Hyune-hwan and professors of the Dept. of Czech and Slovak studies.

The department was established in 1988.

Ambassador Jaroslav Olsa, jr. Said it is a priority of his government to support the study of Czech language abroad. Study of the Czech language goes also to only a few places outside of Europe.

Czech-language programs outside of Europe can be found at universities in Japan, China, North Korea, Mongolia, India, Vietnam, Azerbaijan, Egypt, the United States, Canada and Australia.

Ireland ‘We’re all Irish on March 17’

The Irish Embassy in Korea celebrated St Patrick’s Day, Ireland’s National Day in a reception at the Hyatt Hotel, Friday.

St. Patrick’s Day is celebrated annually on March 17.

Irish Ambassador to Korea Emmon McKee focused on his country’s fiscal health at this year’s National Day celebration.

Ireland ranked No. 2 worldwide as a “globalized economy” and No. 1 in Europe in the ease of starting a business, McKee said in a St Patrick’s Day press release, March 14.

Hong Kong is ranked the most globalized economy in the world.

“We have cut our government deficit and met our stringent EU-IMF fiscal targets. Our banks have de-leveraged about $23 billion in foreign assets and Irish households have de-leveraged almost about $29 billion from 2008. After a 12 percent contraction in GDP, we are forecast to see growth return to our economy this year,” he said in the statement.

A less somber St Patrick’s celebration took place Saturday.

Thanks to the organizing acumen of the Irish Association of Korea, and with the support of the Irish Embassy here, the general public again celebrated Ireland’s National Day at the 12th Saint Patrick’s Festival in Seoul at the D-Cube Plaza, Seoul.

This year the festival drew attention to those of Irish birth and heritage that died in fighting during the Korean War. Though Ireland did not contribute combat soldiers in the 1950-1953 conflict, thousands of Irish birth and heritage fought on the peninsula.

Ireland will mark the 30th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations next year. The 60th anniversary of end of the Korean War, too, will be remembered next year.

“It is hoped that an inclusive memorial can be dedicated in 2013 to those Irish who died,” McKee said.