South Korea-Burma relations
Individual Documents
Sub-title:
The on-going specter of COVID-19 demonstrates that no country is immune from global disaster and no one can self-isolate. When the World Health Organization declared the coronavirus as a pandemic, Dr. Henry Kissinger opined that the coronavirus pandemic will forever alter the world order. Many pundits stress any post-coronavirus world order should renew our recognition of our inter-connectivity and inter-dependence. That leads us to reaffirm our commitment to placing the planet’s long-term interests ahead of short-term political expediency.
Description:
"Antonio Guterres, Secretary-General of the United Nations, in his recent op-ed in NYT dated on April 28, underscored the importance of not losing sight of the big picture and connectedness of issues. He eminently highlighted the nexus between the coronavirus and climate change.
He reiterated that climate disruption is becoming the new normal, human conduct is also leading to severe biodiversity loss, changing animal-human interaction and distorting ecosystem processes that regulate our planetary health. We should take heed of the Secretary-General’s sobering warning that we are approaching a point of no return for human health, which depends on planetary health. The famous disaster movie “Contagion” screened in 2012 is a chilling reminder, as it bore a striking resemblance of the killer virus’ transmission structure; from a bat, and intermediate body and finally to humans. Yet, more importantly, the film concluded by warning that unless human’s destruction of the climate and natural habitats stops, the reappearance of more deadly epidemics is just a matter of time. Indeed, it is startling to see infectious diseases of global magnitude, including SARS, H1N1, Ebola, Mers, Zika, occurring at disturbingly reduced intervals..."
Source/publisher:
"Myanmar Times" (Myanmar)
Date of publication:
2020-05-07
Date of entry/update:
2020-05-17
Grouping:
Individual Documents
Category:
Climate Change - Burma/Myanmar: general, COVID-19 (Coronavirus), South Korea-Burma relations
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Description:
"10 new air-conditioned train carriages bought from South Korea will be up and running on the Mandalay-Myinkyina rail road in early March, according to the Ministry of Transport and Communications.
The new air-conditioned trains will take about 17 hours to travel the Mandalay-Myitkyina route, an hour less than other trains.
Myanmar Railways (MR) signed a contract agreement with the Dawonsys Company to buy 100 new modernised train carriages under the Korean loans on Dec 5,2018.
The Ministry will use a US$45mil loan from Economic Development Cooperation Fund (EDCF) of the EXIM Bank to buy the train carriages. A vessel carrying the 10 new train carriages out of 100 and spare parts, bought under a loan from South Korea, arrived at the Thilawa Jetty, Yangon, on Jan 7.
Works to upgrade the Yangon-Mandalay railroad is a collaboration among Myanmar, South Korea and Japan.
Myanmar and Japan will also cooperate on the Hanthawaddy airport project, the ministry announced..."
Source/publisher:
"The Star Online" (Selangor)
Date of publication:
2020-01-17
Date of entry/update:
2020-01-17
Grouping:
Individual Documents
Category:
Burma's economic relations with South Korea, International Trade, South Korea-Burma relations
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Description:
"South Korea and five member states of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) on Monday on boosting development cooperation in education, smart cities and other fields, Seoul's aid agency said.
The MOU, signed with Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, the Philippines and Vietnam, aims to expand official development assistance (ODA) in the five countries under five flagship programs designed by the Korea International Cooperation Agency (KOICA), KOICA said in a release.
The signing took place on the margins of the special summit between leaders of South Korea and ASEAN partners being held in Busan to commemorate the 30th anniversary of their dialogue relations.
The programs focus on forging digital partnerships for inclusive development, providing assistance for higher education and establishing smart cities and transportation, the aid agency said.
The programs are designed based on the New Southern Policy, a key policy initiative pushed for by the Moon Jae-in government that seeks to deepen economic and other ties with ASEAN members and India..."
Source/publisher:
"The Korea Times" (South Korea)
Date of publication:
2019-11-25
Date of entry/update:
2019-11-25
Grouping:
Individual Documents
Category:
Burma's economic relations with ASEAN, Burma's economic relations with South Korea, Burma/Myanmar's relationship with the Global Economy, ASEAN-Burma relations, South Korea-Burma relations
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Description:
"Zay Linn Htike remembers as a boy waiting to watch his family’s favourite Korean drama series at home. It was called Autumn In My Heart, a program that swept Myanmar close to two decades ago.
“We didn’t have a generator. So if there was an electricity blackout, my mother grabbed me and went to another house, where people gathered and enjoyed Joon Suh and Eun Suh with the help of generator,” he recalled.
“We were that crazy about Korean television series.”
It was the early 2000s and Myanmar was living under the relative darkness and isolation of military rule. At that time there were only two television stations - both state run.
“Back in the day it was 24-hour news and propaganda and nationalistic songs and then they’d have a one-hour belt of Korean shows. It was prime time. It was the only option,” said Jin Park, the general manager of MKCS Global, a major distributor of Korean entertainment content in Myanmar..."
Source/publisher:
"CNA" ( Singapore)
Date of publication:
2019-11-24
Date of entry/update:
2019-11-24
Grouping:
Individual Documents
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Description:
"The Embassy of the Republic of Korea (ROK) has issued a statement reaffirming South Korea’s commitment to investing in Myanmar.
The statement issued last week reiterated that the embassy has not heard any official news of South Korean companies considering relocating from Myanmar to neighbouring countries.
The statement was issued following the emergence of news reports in Bangladesh reporting that a South Korean developer of industrial zones active in Myanmar intends to do the same in Bangladesh, and that South Korean companies would be relocating there.
The embassy’s statement went on to say that it has not heard of any South Korean company or factory operating in Myanmar considering relocation to neighboring countries.
In added that, on the contrary, the embassy has been receiving an increasing number of inquiries about Myanmar from prospective South Korean investors..."
Source/publisher:
"Myanmar Times" (Myanmar)
Date of publication:
2019-11-13
Date of entry/update:
2019-11-13
Grouping:
Individual Documents
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Description:
"SH Suhyup Bank has set up a micro finance institution (MFI) in Myanmar, which is its first overseas subsidiary. The bank is planning to accelerate its entry into Southeast Asian markets, such as Cambodia and Indonesia, in the future.
Suhyup Bank held an opening ceremony for “Suhyup Micro Finance Myanmar” in Naypyidaw, the capital of Myanmar, on Sept. 16, the bank said on Sept. 17. This is the first fruit of Suhyup Bank CEO Lee Dong-bin’s efforts to find a new growth engine.
Lee urged officials of the new subsidiary to provide services with sincerity and put trust from local customers first. He also told them to respect Myanmar's laws and culture in doing business and prevent all kinds of financial accidents.
Since assuming office, Lee has sought to move into Southeast Asian countries, making preparations to open the bank’s first overseas subsidiary. He thought that it would be difficult to create a new breakthrough in the South Korean market.
For starters, Suhyup Bank decided to establish its own subsidiary rather than acquire a local financial company. The bank chose Myanmar as the first country to start its overseas business because it was possible to start business with a small amount of investment and it was relatively easy to gain approval for new business from the local government. Suhyup Bank received final approval on July 31 from the Myanmar government to establish the subsidiary. It was allowed to operate in all eight townships in Naypyidaw. It will operate three offices in Naypyidaw, including the head office in Pyinmana..."
Source/publisher:
"BusinessKorea" (South Korea)
Date of publication:
2019-09-18
Date of entry/update:
2019-09-18
Grouping:
Individual Documents
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Sub-title:
Economic development, agriculture, electricity, and infrastructure projects will be the focus of a framework for loans between South Korea and Myanmar.
Description:
"On September 3, Union Minister for Investment and Foreign Economic Relations U Thaung Tun and South Korea’s Minister for Foreign Affairs Ms Kang Kyung-wha signed the framework agreement under which South Korea will provide US$1 billion to Myanmar for an economic development cooperation fund (EDCF) during a visit by South Korean President Moon Jae to Myanmar.
According to the Ministry of Investment and Foreign Economic Relations, nine projects are included under the loan framework. The Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock, and Irrigation is expected to receive US$57 million for upgrading state agricultural institutes conducting vocational and educational programmes, upgrading agricultural cooperative societies, promoting income generation for rural cooperatives members, and the Ayeyarwaddy Delta Area Development Programme.
The Ministry of Transport and Communication (MOTC) is expected to receive US$93 million for an e-government integrated data center project, US$45 million for a railway modernisation project, and US$700 million for the Mandalay – Myitkyina rail line project..."
Source/publisher:
"Myanmar Times"
Date of publication:
2019-09-09
Date of entry/update:
2019-09-09
Grouping:
Individual Documents
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Description:
"The president of South Korea pledged to accelerate Korea’s economic presence and to cooperate on development in Myanmar after meeting with the Myanmar State Counselor in Naypyitaw on Tuesday. The trip is a part of his “New Southern Policy” to deepen relations with Southeast Asian nations, including in the economic realm.
Moon Jae-in arrived Myanmar’s capital of Naypyitaw on Tuesday morning after beginning a six-day tour of the region on Sunday to build closer ties with Southeast Asian countries ahead of a special meeting with ASEAN member states in November.
In Naypyitaw, the Korean President met with his Myanmar counterpart U Win Myint and State Counselor Daw Aung San Suu Kyi. Five MOUs and one framework agreement, focused mostly on investment between two countries, were signed.
As part of its flagship policy, Myanmar is one of Korea’s focus countries. Moon highlighted a Korea Myanmar industrial complex project and said the project is ‘a signature cooperation’ between the two countries that will accelerate Korean companies’ investment in Myanmar and significantly contribute to economic growth..."
Source/publisher:
"The Irrawaddy"
Date of publication:
2019-09-03
Date of entry/update:
2019-09-04
Grouping:
Individual Documents
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Description:
Myanmar, South Korean groups to strengthen ties
By Nyi Nyi Aung
THE Myanmar-South Korea Friendship Association and a South Korean counterpart have signed a memorandum of understanding aimed at strengthening their relationship.
The MOU with the South Korea-Myanmar Interchange Association was signed in Yangon on February 24, said the general secretary of the Myanmar-South Korea Friendship Association, U Than Win.
Nyi Nyi Aung
Source/publisher:
The Myanmar Times_ Volume 11 , No.206
Date of entry/update:
2010-09-28
Grouping:
Individual Documents
Category:
South Korea-Burma relations
Language:
English
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Description:
South Korea?s Foreign Ministry said Monday rumors about nuclear collaboration between North Korea and Myanmar would be discussed when a high-level envoy from Seoul travels to the Southeast Asian nation this week, the Yonhap News Agency reported (see GSN, July 23).
Source/publisher:
NTI
Date of publication:
2010-08-18
Date of entry/update:
2010-09-28
Grouping:
Individual Documents
Category:
South Korea-Burma relations, North Korea (DPRK) -Burma relations, Burma/Myanmar's alleged nuclear weapons programme
Language:
English
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Title: Yonhap (South Korea): S. Korea to address suspected Myanmar, N. Korea nuclear issue: ministry
Description:
South Korea will talk about possible nuclear cooperation between Myanmar and North Korea when a senior diplomat visits the Southeast Asian country next week, the foreign ministry here announced Monday.Vice Foreign Minister Shin Kak-soo is scheduled to visit Myanmar from Aug. 19-21, where he will deliver Seoul?s message encouraging fair elections on Nov. 7, according to ministry spokesman Kim Young-son. The elections will be the country?s first in two decades.
Source/publisher:
"BurmaNet News"
Date of publication:
2010-08-17
Date of entry/update:
2010-09-28
Grouping:
Individual Documents
Category:
South Korea-Burma relations, Burma/Myanmar's alleged nuclear weapons programme, North Korea (DPRK) -Burma relations
Language:
English
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Description:
"South Korea has said it will raise the issue of controversial military ties between Burma and North Korea when a senior government official visits the pariah state next week."
FRANCIS WADE
Source/publisher:
Democratic Voice of Burma (DVB)
Date of publication:
2010-08-18
Date of entry/update:
2010-09-03
Grouping:
Individual Documents
Category:
South Korea-Burma relations, North Korea (DPRK) -Burma relations, Burma/Myanmar's alleged nuclear weapons programme
Language:
English
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Description:
Executive Summary: "This report is intended to inform the upcoming meetings of the OECD Investment
Committee in Paris, France in 2009. It documents substantive errors in the Korean NCP?s
interpretations of the OECD Guidelines, and its failure to achieve functional equivalence
with other NCPs. EarthRights International (ERI) and the Shwe Gas Movement (SGM)
request the Investment Committee to address the governance gap within the OECD
Guidelines system of implementation by acknowledging the Korean NCP?s errors in
interpretation, and by clarifying certain aspects of Guidelines with respect to the Korean
NCP?s decision in the Shwe case.
Chapter 1 provides an updated context of the situation in Burma, highlighting the
environmental and human rights, political, and economic situations, with particular
attention to updates on the impacts of natural gas development in the country.
Chapter 2 describes the OECD Guidelines specific instance procedure and the
complaint filed by ERI and SGM et al. in October 2008.
Chapter 3 explains structural shortcomings and conflicts of interest at the Korean
NCP, noting that these are problems that appear to pervade the NCP system, raising
important questions about the ability of the Guidelines to have their desired effect.
Chapter 4 describes specific substantive problems with the Korean NCP?s
decision in the Shwe case, noting how the NCP decided in favor of the companies on
every count, concluding that the complaint did not merit further attention.
Chapter 5 highlights the ways in which the Korean NCP?s decision is
inconsistent with decisions of other NCPs, most notably with decisions by the French and
UK NCPs.
Chapter 6 makes specific requests of the OECD Investment Committee with
respect to clarifying certain aspects of the Guidelines and taking effective action to
improve the performance of the Korean NCP.
Appendix A of this report is an unofficial English translation of the Korean NCPs
decision. The text of the complaint filed by ERI and SGM et al. is available at
www.earthrights.org."
Source/publisher:
EarthRights International, Shwe Gas Movement
Date of publication:
2009-06-15
Date of entry/update:
2010-08-20
Grouping:
Individual Documents
Language:
English
Format :
pdf
Size:
498.25 KB
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