SEOUL (May 28): South Korea’s is Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism has launched a four-year plan aimed at enhancing international perceptions of the country.
In a statement, the Ministry said it would implement three major strategies with 11 key initiatives from 2024 to 2027.
“Central to these strategies is the integration of messages directed overseas, making Korea-related information more credible, user-friendly and interactive, and expanding cooperation with non-traditional channels,” the statement said.
It said past overseas promotions had failed to show the overarching values or national image that South Korea aimed to project.
Enlarging on this, Deputy Minister for International Cultural Affairs and Public Relations, Yong Ho-seong said the Ministry would support the free flow of credible information on South Korea by leveraging artificial intelligence.
"To provide credible and accurate information, K-Info Hub will be launched. The platform, which will include intelligent search and automatic translation services, will gather and present data from authoritative sources,” Mr Yong (pictured) said.
“It will ensure global audiences receive reliable information on Korea's history, culture and current affairs, while at the same time the Ministry will continue efforts to correct inaccurate or outdated information.”
He said the Ministry would eliminate the time gap in the information provided to domestic and foreign media, a long-standing source of contention among the international press.
“Expanding its traditional channels beyond diplomats and traditional foreign media, the Ministry will support immigrants, foreign workers and students to act as effective ambassadors,” Mr Yong said.
"We plan to provide reference materials on various aspects of living in Korea, including historical, economic, and social information, to help them become proactive and positive ambassadors of Korea."
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Case apologises for attacks on Johnson
LONDON (May 24): The United Kingdom’s Cabinet Secretary has apologised for messages criticising former Prime Minister, Boris Johnson and top Civil Service officials, during the pandemic crisis, saying they were "raw, in-the-moment" expressions.
Simon Case had gone on to WhatsApp to say Mr Johnson "cannot lead" and calling officials "pygmies" at the height of the pandemic. At the time, Mr Case was the Prime Minister's Chief Adviser.
Speaking to the UK COVID-19 inquiry, Mr Case said he "deeply regretted" the messages.
"They are very raw, in-the-moment human expressions — they're not the whole story, but I recognise they're part of the story. Many of them now require apologies for things that I said and the way I expressed myself," Mr Case said.
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ICJ declines order on embassy invasion
THE HAGUE (May 25): The International Court of Justice (ICJ) has declined to order Ecuador to protect Mexico’s Embassy in Quito.
Mexico had filed a complaint against Ecuador at the ICJ after Ecuadorian police stormed the compound last month, in what many considered a breach of diplomatic conventions, to arrest former Vice President, Jorge Glas who had sought refuge there.
Mexico’s complaint stated that Ecuador’s actions had violated its sovereignty. It called for Quito to issue an apology or face suspension from the United Nations.
However, President of the ICJ, Nawaf Salam said Ecuador had already made pledges that “encompass the concerns expressed by Mexico”.
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New AI-driven strategy for Public Service
OTTAWA (May 28): The Canadian Government has begun developing the first artificial intelligence strategy for the Federal Public Service, to be launched in 2025.
President of the Treasury Board, Anita Anand said consultations had begun with a summit on AI involving Government officials, academics and representatives from AI institutes.
Canada’s Chief Data Officer, Stephen Burt said the strategy would focus on the integration of data into the work of Government, also serving as a model for how the bureaucracy responded to other emerging technologies.
“As the field of AI advances and is integrated more and more into products and services, it is clear we need a cohesive AI-adoption strategy aligned with the digital ambition and the data strategy for the Federal Public Service,” Mr Burt said.
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Time-off plan for PS volunteers rejected
HONG KONG (May 22): Hong Kong’s Civil Service Secretary, Ingrid Yeung Ho Poi-yan has rejected a proposal that bureaucrats be compensated for leave taken to provide volunteer service.
Her response came after a Member of the Legislative Council, Chau Siu-chung suggested Government workers be provided with one day of compensation leave per month, “similar to the policy in Singapore”, to incentivise participation in charity or community service work.
Ms Yeung said voluntary work required self-sacrifice, and if Civil Servants chose to use their own leave time for such activities, it would be in keeping with the spirit of volunteering.
However, she hoped Civil Servants would still volunteer and would look at other ways of recognising their service.
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Call to extend miscarriage leave
DUBLIN (May 27): Ireland’s Association of Higher Civil and Public Servants has called for new special leave arrangements in the Civil Service for staff experiencing a miscarriage.
Orna-Richella Maguire, of the Revenue Branch, told delegates to the Association’s annual conference there was a particular need to address the lack of support provided to staff who experienced a miscarriage early in a pregnancy, rather than after the 24th week, when support currently began.
“Everybody sitting in this room knows someone who has experienced miscarriage, but most of you won’t know who those people are,” Ms Maguire said.
“What we are seeking is an arrangement to recognise pregnancy before everybody has noticed it and it has become common knowledge.”
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JAL reprimanded over airport incidents
TOKYO (May 28): Japan’s Transport Ministry has summoned Japan Airlines President, Mitsuko Tottori to hear a “stern reprimand” following a series of recent incidents involving JAL aircraft.
The Ministry demanded the company submit measures to prevent any recurrence by June 11. In response, Ms Tottori said the company was deeply sorry for causing great anxiety and would take appropriate measures after fully analysing the incidents.
Most recently, the wingtip of a JAL plane carrying some 300 passengers touched that of another JAL plane in a parking apron at Tokyo's Haneda Airport.
On May 10, a JAL aircraft set to take off from Fukuoka Airport crossed a stop line after being instructed to halt, and approached a runway, causing a taxing plane on the runway to abort its take-off. No injuries were reported in the two cases.
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Official sacked after hiring criticisms
DENVER (May 29) The Executive Director of the Denver's Civil Service Commission has been sacked, with the news being revealed shortly after she gave a news conference claiming hiring standards for the US city’s Police and Fire Departments had been lowered.
Niecy Murray appeared with three Denver Councilwomen, saying political pressures were making it hard for her to do her job independently.
"The Mayor has made it clear he will not back off of the staffing numbers he set in his campaign. My job is not to be liked, it is to be sure that the standard the people expect for their first responders be upheld,” Ms Murray said.
In a statement, Denver’s Board of Commissioners said it had decided to release Ms Murray “after weeks of deliberation”, claiming she already knew of the decision before calling the news conference.
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Officers ‘fearful of being innovative’
BRIDGETOWN (May 27): A University of the West Indies survey has found that a significant number of Barbados Civil Servants are hesitant to introduce creative ideas and streamline services out of fear of criticism or lack of support.
The survey, carried out in late 2023, investigated public officers’ perspectives and experiences in attempting to take initiatives within their organisations.
Professor Hubert Devonish, who led the survey, said just under half of the surveyed public officers felt at least somewhat comfortable with taking a healthy risk and speaking out.
However, just over 30 per cent reported a neutral stance, citing several barriers to putting forward their ideas, including an unsupportive organisational culture resistant to change, insufficient resources and tools, and bureaucratic red tape and processes.
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