With New Title and Old Fervor, a Briton Makes a Return

Denis MacShane said he believed that his last visit to Korea provided a lucky "kiss of a dragon." Soon after he visited Seoul in March to attend a forum to discuss U.K.-Korea cooperation, Mr. MacShane was promoted to parliamentary under-secretary of state for the Foreign and Commonwealth Office of the United Kingdom.

Mr. MacShane is back in town for three days with the spirit of a soaring dragon, and a host of new assignments.

His new responsibilities since his June 11 appointment include overseeing relations in the northeast Asia-Pacific, Latin America, and southeast Europe regions.

To improve Anglo-Korea relations, Mr. MacShane will support the granting of the Chevening scholarships funded by the British government. The awards, considered prestigious, enable diligent young Koreans to study and train in the United Kingdom.

Former Chevening scholars include Foreign Minister Han Seung-soo and the president of the Bank of Korea, Chon Chol-hwan.

Mr. MacShane also announced a competition on the British Embassy's Web site (www.britain.or.kr) where students can win trips to study in the United Kingdom for a week.

To mark Mr. MacShane's return, the embassy held a garden party Tuesday evening. More than 200 guests showed up, including members of the Korea British Society and Korean politicians, such as the representative Sohn Hak-kyu and the former prime minister, Kang Young-hoon.

On the manicured embassy lawn, guests mingled well into the night over wine and a buffet.

by In? Cho