PEN International, a literary organization aiming to globalize Korean literature overseas [...] "Literature is food for the soul and a mirror of the world. It has a cathartic effect on our hearts. Korean literature is struggling to be appreciated overseas due to a lack of administrative support and translations. We will continue to hold forums and publish second and third books onwards to accelerate the globalization of Korean literature."

A senior South Korean diplomat voiced concerns on Monday over Beijing's restrictions on Korean entertainers' performances in China, the foreign ministry here said as the countries remain at odds over Seoul's plans to deploy an advanced U.S. missile defense system.

For over a decade, South Korean businessmen and officials have regularly met with representatives of the Maghreb and most developed countries in Central Africa. [...] Furthermore, the author stressed the role of "soft power" in Seoul’s presence in Africa.  "South Korea is a recognized international power. It wants to have an international policy adequate to this status," Dayez-Burgeon noted.

Indians — especially the youth — are learning Korean, eating kimchi and travelling to Seoul to sample the life shown on their favourite TV dramas, and films [...] Over the last decade, K-pop and K-dramas, as well as their movies, have unleashed a tsunami of growth and popularity in India, and the numbers of avid fans continue to grow exponentially.

More and more, a country’s diplomacy focus has shifted to promoting its cultural aspects — food, fashion, songs and dances — abroad. These are offered as an important part of its cultural diplomacy, which is not only internally generated, but is more impactful.

The strengthening cooperation between the United Nations World Food Program and the Korean government is helping eradicate poverty worldwide and equipping communities against future disasters, the humanitarian agency’s leading official said during a visit to Korea in early November.