By Diplomacy Journal Lee Kap-soo On September 8, 2025, President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev delivered his annual state-of-the-nation address, “Kazakhstan in the Era of Artificial Intelligence: Key Tasks and Their Solutions through Digital Transformation.” The Head of State presented an ambitious program of reforms centered on digital transformation, investment, global connectivity, and institutional renewal. At the heart of the address was Kazakhstan’s determination to lead in the AI era. President Tokayev announced the creation of a new Ministry of Artificial Intelligence and Digital Development,
By Diplomacy Journal Lee Kap-soo Deputy Minister for Trade Park Jong-won met with Saskatchewan’s Minister of Trade and Export Development Warren Kaeding in Seoul on September 8, to discuss ways to strengthen bilateral cooperation in industries, critical minerals, and energy. The Canadian province of Saskatchewan is rich in natural resources, including uranium, natural gas, oil, and critical minerals. The province ranks first globally in both potash reserves and production, third in uranium reserves, and second in uranium production. It is also pursuing the introduction of small modular reactor
By Diplomacy Journal Lee Kap-soo The Seoul Metropolitan Government (SMG) announced on Sept. 8 that 1.36 million international tourists visited Seoul in July. This is a 23.1% increase from the same month last year when the figure was 1.1 million, marking the highest monthly record ever. The total showed an 18.2% rise from July 2019, prior to the COVID-19 pandemic. Visitors by country included 470,000 from China, 240,000 from Japan, 160,000 from Taiwan, and 100,000 from the United States. From January to July this year, a total of 8.28 million international tourists visited Seoul, up 15.9% from
By Diplomacy Journal Kayla Lee Minister of Foreign Affairs Cho Hyun held a telephone conversation with Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Sa’ar on September 3, during which the two sides exchanged views on Korea-Israel relations and regional affairs in the Middle East. This call also served as a courtesy exchange marking Minister Cho’s inauguration. Minister Sa’ar congratulated Minister Cho on his assumption of office and proposed maintaining close communication to deepen bilateral cooperation. Minister Cho appreciated that both countries have continued to develop friendly and cooperative relatio
By Diplomacy Journal Kayla Lee Foreign Minister Cho Hyun held his first phone call with French Foreign Minister Jean-Noël Barrot, which also served as an inaugural greeting on Sept. 8. They exchanged views on bilateral relations and the international situation. Minister Barrot congratulated Minister Cho on his appointment, noted the strengthening of exchanges and cooperation between the two countries across various fields, and expressed his hope for continued close collaboration, particularly in key areas such as AI, space, and defense. Minister Cho noted the sustained expansion of bilateral t
By Diplomacy Journal Kayla Lee The ‘Sawasdee Seoul Thai Festival 2025: Discover Thailand’ opened in spectacular fashion at Cheonggye Plaza in Seoul on September 6, 2025. At the opening ceremony, Thailand’s Foreign Ministry adviser Dusit Manapan officially declared the festival open, and Tanee Sangrat, Ambassador of Thailand to the Republic of Korea, delivered a welcome address. Additionally, Kim Young-soo, First Vice Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism of the Republic of Korea; Yoo Sang-beom, Member of the National Assembly and Vice Chairman of the Korea-Thailand Parliamentary Friendship A
By Diplomacy Journal Lee Kap-soo LG Electronics CEO William Cho is advancing the company’s Global South growth strategy through a strategic partnership to provide cooling solutions for an AI data center under development in Oxagon, the industrial hub of Saudi Arabia’s NEOM City project. On September 2 in Riyadh, Cho met with Abdulelah Abunayyan, Chairman of SHAKER Group, the manufacturer and sole distributor of LG Air Conditioners, following the 30th anniversary of the strategic partnership; and Rajit Nanda, CEO of DATAVOLT, a global data infrastructure provider. The parties signed a memorandu
By Diplomacy Journal Kayla Lee The Busan Cultural Center announced on August 8 that it will host the ‘80th Anniversary of the United Nations Concert’ on October 23. According to the Busan Cultural Center, this performance was planned to celebrate the 80th anniversary of the UN's founding and UN Day (October 24), to convey the values of international peace and solidarity through music, and to showcase Busan's symbolic significance and status to the world. The concert will feature conductor Yoon Han-gyeol, the first Korean recipient of the ‘Karajan Young Conductors Award’, and the Busan Philharm
By Diplomacy Journal Lee Kap-soo Minister for Trade Yeo Han-koo met with ambassadors from 18 member states of the Group of Latin America and the Caribbean (GRULAC) in Seoul on September 3, to discuss the global trade environment and explore ways to strengthen economic and trade cooperation between Korea and GRULAC. Attendees included ambassadors from Mexico, Brazil, Argentina, Chile, and Peru. During the meeting, Trade Minister Yeo stated that the multilateral trading system was facing a fundamental challenge amid intensifying geopolitical competition and rising protectionism. He stressed the
By Diplomacy Journal Kayla Lee Kia Corporation is celebrating its one millionth sale in Australia on September 4, 2025. The milestone vehicle, a Tasman X-Pro Dual Cab pickup, purchased from Motorama Kia in Queensland, reflects the brand’s growing popularity in the region and its ability to adapt to customer needs. Kia first entered the Australian market in 1988 with the launch of the Rocsta. It took three decades to reach 500,000 cumulative sales in 2018 – a significant achievement. Yet in just seven years, Kia has doubled that figure, reaching the one million mark. This rapid growth highlight
By Diplomacy Journal Lee Kap-soo Vice Defense Minister Lee Doo-hee met with Luke Pollard, the UK’s Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for the Armed Forces, at the Ministry of National Defense in Yongsan, Seoul, on August 26 to discuss ways to strengthen bilateral cooperation in defense and the defense industry. The UK Ministry of Defense appoints Parliamentary Under-Secretaries of State to oversee ministerial affairs, defense acquisition, military affairs, and personnel. The Under-Secretary for the Armed Forces is specifically responsible for force readiness and crisis management. Vice Min
By Diplomacy Journal Lee Kap-soo Hanwha Aerospace, and its Europe based subsidiary Hanwha Aerospace Europe, along with the Polish Military Institute of Armament Technology (WITU), have signed a strategic cooperation MOU during the MSPO 2025 international defence exhibition. This agreement paves the way for deeper industrial cooperation and is a foundational step toward strengthening Poland's sovereign defence capabilities, particularly in the ammunition sector. Under this MOU, Hanwha Aerospace and WITU have agreed to collaborate on various aspects of ammunition technology, including the design
By Diplomacy Journal Lee Kap-soo The Korean-German Chamber of Commerce and Industry (KGCCI, President & CEO Marie Antonia von Schönburg) hosted “Guide Walkers” joint CSR event on September 7, 2025, at Sangam World Cup Park in Seoul, South Korea. This year’s event marked a milestone, with over 700 colleagues and partners from KGCCI and its member companies joining as “Guide Walkers” for individuals with visual impairments at the 11th Harmony Marathon with the Visually Impaired, co-organized by Seoul Disabled Sports Association and KGCCI. Launched in 2023 to commemorate 140th anniversary of
By Diplomacy Journal Kayla Lee Early morning on September 5, at the Chinese Embassy in Jung-gu, Seoul. Though still early, the air outside the embassy is thick with a peculiar mix of tension and excitement. Twenty-six youth reporters, notebooks in one hand and passports in the other, board the bus bound for China. They were participants in the ‘6th Korea Youth Journalists’ Visit to China’ program, the protagonists of a bilateral youth friendship exchange initiative organized by the Korea China Economy & Culture Educational Association (KCCEA, Chairperson Shin Kyung-sook) and co-hosted by t
By Diplomacy Journal Lee Kap-soo The Korean-German Chamber of Commerce and Industry (KGCCI, President & CEO Marie Antonia von Schönburg), in cooperation with the German Embassy Seoul and think tank adelphi under the Korean-German Energy Partnership, supported by RWE Renewables, TÜV SÜD, Maschinenfabrik Reinhausen, Skyborn Renewables, and BayWa r.e., hosted the 2025 Korean-German Business Forum on Offshore Wind Energy on September 5 at the Four Seasons Hotel Seoul. Held under the theme of “Offshore Wind Special Act and Beyond,” the forum brought together over 200 key stakeholders from Korea