Submit your Article

The Korea Visa Application Center (KVAC) was officially inaugurated in Kathmandu on Friday.

Korean Ambassador to Nepal Park Tae-young, Song Mi-sun, CEO of HanaTour, officials from Nepal’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and representatives of local business communities were present in the inauguration ceremony held at the OneSky Building in Lalitpur.

The Center was opened to significantly enhance the convenience and accessibility of the Republic of Korea visa application process for residents of Nepal.

In response to the rapid surge in visa applications driven by increased bilateral exchange between Korea and Nepal, the KVAC, operated by HanaTour, has been entrusted with the crucial task of facilitating visa applications.

Song emphasized: “HanaTour brings 30 years of global experience in operating travel and visa services, along with proven expertise from managing visa centers in nations such as China, Vietnam, and the Philippines. We are committed to deploying stable and highly sophisticated services in Nepal to offer optimal convenience for all applicants planning their visit to Korea.”

Strategically located in Lalitpur, the Center has enhanced accessibility by extending visa application hours—previously limited to mornings—until 4 pm on weekdays, while telephone consultation services will be available until 9 pm.

In addition, diverse payment options and region-specific customized services are expected to greatly simplify the application process. Designed with a spacious layout, the Center also provides applicant computer workstations and a VIP room, offering improved convenience for all visitors.

A KVAC representative highlighted the center’s commitment to standardized yet localized service delivery: “Building upon a foundation of standardized services, we will operate the Korea Visa Application Center tailored to the characteristics of each region.

Through the implementation of a pre-reservation system and the operation of a centralized call center, visa applicants will now have easier and more convenient access to accurate information regarding Republic of Korea visas and the real-time status of their applications.”

The representative further added: “We anticipate that the provision of courteous and highly reliable services will positively contribute to the vitalization of both economic exchange and private-sector diplomacy between Nepal and the Republic of Korea.”

The center currently offers value-added services such as SMS tracking and courier services, with plans to progressively expand customer convenience services in line with future demand. This inauguration marks a critical milestone, establishing a stable infrastructure to effectively manage the growing demand for Korean visas in Nepal.

The representative further added: "We anticipate that the provision of courteous and highly reliable services will positively contribute to the vitalization of both economic exchange and private-sector diplomacy between Nepal and the Republic of Korea."

The Nepal-India Chamber of Commerce & Industry (NICCI) and the University of Nepal (UoN) signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on Friday to establish a strategic partnership aimed at developing skilled manpower by bridging the gap between academia and industry.

NICCI Director General Keshab Man Singh and University of Nepal Registrar Dr Suresh Acharya on behalf of their respective institutions signed the MoU.

Both organizations will collaborate to link academic knowledge with industry needs, build capacity, and work together in areas including training, workshops, conferences, and summits under this agreement.

Prof. Dr Bindu Lohani, Chancellor of the University of Nepal, said that the university is developing a Special Purpose Vehicle (SPV) model for financial (non-academic) operations and embraces an Industry–Government–Academia (IGA) approach.

He further said that the university is moving toward an interdisciplinary curriculum model, where the first-year curriculum emphasizes breadth of knowledge, followed by subject-specific depth. “Our courses are designed to equip students with the skills that the country urgently needs today,” he added.

The MoU aims to create a dynamic interface between academic knowledge and industry practices, enabling students to gain practical skills, foster innovation, and promote entrepreneurship through collaborative efforts.

Three persons died and eight others were injured in a jeep accident at Churibas in Nisdi Rural Municipality-4, Palpa on Friday.

The incident occurred when the jeep (Lu 1 Ja 3908) heading towards Palpa from East Arunkhola, Nawalparasi fell some two meters down the road at around 10 am today, DSP Home Prakash Chaudhary, Information Officer at the District Police Office, Palpa said.

The identities of the deceased are yet to be established, he added.

According to him, the injured are undergoing treatment at the Madhyabindu Province Hospital.

Sixteen sheep and three mountain goats were killed in a snow leopard attack near the Temperate Horticulture Development Center at Gharpajong-2, Marfa last night. 

The Annapurna Conservation Area Project Jomsom has reported that a snow leopard entered the sheep pen of Santosh Pariyar, a local, and killed the sheep. 

There were 45 sheep in his farm. 19 sheep among them were killed in the attack by the leopard, informed Rajesh Gupta, head of the ACAP Jomsom office. 

The preliminary estimate indicates a loss amounting to Rs 600,000. 

He shared that representatives from the Annapurna Conservation Area Project Jomsom, and a team from the District Police Office are heading to the incident site. 

As reported, conflicts between humans and snow leopards have been increasingly visible in the area lately. 

During winter, snow leopards search for prey species and come closer to human settlements in lack of grass in grazing areas. 

Snow leopards, following their prey, also approach settlements and cause damage to local herders’ livestock. 

In recent times, establishing coexistence between humans and snow leopards has become tricky due to climate change effects. 

Citing these reasons, some farmers have started abandoning livestock rearing business in the district.