By Diplomacy Journal Lee Kap-soo Minister of Foreign Affairs Cho Tae-yul, who visited Australia to attend the sixth ROK-Australia Foreign and Defense Ministers’ (2+2) Meeting, held a “Meeting with Businesspeople” with Korean entrepreneurs in Melbourne on April 30, and also had a “Dialogue with the Young Generation” for Korean students studying in Australia and participants of working holiday programs. During the meeting with businesspeople, Minister Cho said that the Ministry of Foreign Affairs will spare no effort in providing necessary support to Korean businesses for expanding exports and o
By Diplomacy Journal Lee Jon-young “Daegu Prison, with a history of 100 years, will start a new 100 years in Habin.” Daegu Prison held a relocation ceremony at the prison's general sports field in Habin-myeon, Dalseong-gun, Daegu City on May 2. More than 300 guests attended the ceremony, including Daegu Mayor Hong Joon-pyo, Minister of Justice Park Sung-jae, Dalseong-gun Mayor Choi Jae-hoon, Daegu High Prosecutor's Office Director Noh Jung-yeon, Daegu District Prosecutor's Officew Director Shin Eung-seok, Corrections Headquarters Director Shin Yong-hae, Daegu Regional Corrections Commissioner
By Diplomacy Journal Lee Jon-young President Yoon Suk-yeol said at a press conference on May 9, “I will mobilize all the country's capabilities to overcome the declining birthrate, which is a national emergency,” and announced the establishment of a new planning ministry, tentatively titled the 'Ministry of Low Birthrate Response Planning,' to prepare for a low birthrate and aging population.” President Yoon made the announcement in a message to the public earlier in the day at a press conference on the second anniversary of his inauguration at the Yongsan presidential office in Seoul. “We wil
By Kim Hak-young Portrait paintings have played a very important role in art history over the ages, and the writer met Jisan Park Young-gil at his Insa-dong studio. There is a painter in the Korean art world who is considered a master of portrait painting. This is Park Young-gil, chairman of the Korean Portrait Painters Association. The moment you enter Park's studio in Insa-dong, Seoul, you are greeted by works that speak volumes about his mastery of portraiture. From the majestic and vivid portraits of the late President Park Chung-hee to former U.S. President Reagan to the world-famous base
By Diplomacy Journal Lee Kap-soo GS E&C, Dongbu E&C, and Daebo E&C have received a one-year ban from bidding on public works projects from LH in connection with the collapse of the underground parking lot of an apartment building in Geomdan, Incheon, last year. GS E&C and Dongbu E&C announced on May 3 that they have been notified by LH that they have been banned from bidding on public works projects. As a result, the companies will not be able to participate in bidding for public works projects ordered by domestic public institutions for one year from May 22 this year to Ma
By Diplomacy Journal Lee Kap-soo Minister of Foreign Affairs Cho Tae-yul hosted luncheon for Mr. Hao Peng, Secretary of the Liaoning Provincial Committee of the Communist Party of China who was visiting Korea on April 24. Over the luncheon, the two sides exchanged views on ways to enhance substantive cooperation between Korea and Liaoning Province, among other topics. Minister Cho welcomed Secretary Hao's visit to Korea as the first of its kind by a Chinese provincial secretary since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic. He emphasized the crucial role of enhanced exchanges between provinces of K
By Diplomacy Journal Kayla Lee Minister of Foreign Affairs Cho Tae-yul, who is in Australia to attend the sixth ROK-Australia Foreign and Defense Ministers’ (2+2) Meeting, had a tea time with students from the Korean Language Teacher Training Course in the University of Melbourne along with Australian Minister for Foreign Affairs Penny Wong on May 1. Minister Cho discussed the beauty of the Korean literature and recited “To My Illness” by the late poet Cho Jihoon in both Korean and English. Prior to the event, Minister Cho and Minister Wong spent time deepening their friendship by walking toge
By Diplomacy Journal Lee Jon-young By Artist Kim Sona As an alternative medical student, I remember being terrified when I entered the anatomy lab for the first time. In contrast to my trembling heart, I was greeted by a picture of the blue and clean landscape of Santorini on the wall of the anatomy room. My mind immediately relaxed, as if I were in one of the places in Santorini. So I was able to study the human body in a more relaxed state of mind while looking at cadavar. The painting I am trying to paint is the kind of painting that makes you feel relaxed just by looking at it. Regardless
By Diplomacy Journal Lee Kap-soo In commemoration of the 75th anniversary of the Philippines-Korea diplomatic relations, a solo exhibition by the famous Filipino artist Lenore RS Lim was held from May 1 to 6 at Maru Art Center in Insa-dong Seoul. The solo exhibition, which was organized by the Embassy of the Philippines in Korea and supported by Diplomacy Journal, was held under the title of “Interwoven Horizons.” More than 100 guests, including H.E. Ambassador Carlos Penafiel of Mexico in Seoul and his spouse, Mrs. Regina Flores Chuzeville, and Baek Soo-mi, chairperson of Hansae Yes24 Foundat
By Diplomacy Journal Lee Kap-soo On May 2, the President of the Republic of Uzbekistan Shavkat Mirziyoyev participated in the plenary meeting of the Third Tashkent International Investment Forum at the Congress Center in Tashkent. Below is the full speech of the President of Uzbekistan at the Forum. Dear participants of the forum! Ladies and gentlemen! At the outset, let me sincerely welcome you at the third Tashkent International Investment Forum. I would like to note with pleasure that within the framework of this format, which is becoming a great annual tradition, new and reliable partners
By Diplomacy Journal Lee Kap-soo The President of the Republic of Uzbekistan Shavkat Mirziyoyev participated in the plenary meeting of the Third Tashkent International Investment Forum at the Congress Center in Tashkent on May 2. The event was also attended by the Vice President of the Republic of Türkiye Cevdet Yılmaz, Speaker of the Parliament of Singapore Seah Kian Peng, Prime Minister of Kyrgyzstan Akylbek Japarov, Minister of Energy of Saudi Arabia Abdulaziz bin Salman Al Saud, President of the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development Odile Renaud-Basso, Executive Secretary of the
By Diplomacy Journal Lee Kap-soo Goyang Special City (Mayor Lee Dong-hwan) held an international cooperation promotion meeting inviting ambassadors from 32 countries at KINTEX on April 27. At the event, the ambassadors discussed ways to expand the number of countries participating in the Goyang International Flower Expo, revitalize coffee industry and cultural exchanges, and promote and cooperate on the designation of a free economic zone. Mayor Lee Dong-hwan welcomed and thanked the ambassadors from 32 countries, saying, “Today's world is forming a global village where boundaries between coun
By Diplomacy Journal Kayla Lee Foreign Minister Cho Tae-yul and Defense Minister Shin Won-sik held the 6th Korea-Australia Foreign Affairs and Defense (2+2) Ministerial Meeting with Australian Deputy Prime Minister and Defense Minister Richard Marles and Foreign Minister Penny Wong in Melbourne, Australia on May 1. They exchanged in-depth views on the Korean Peninsula and regional affairs. Following the meeting, the ministers held a joint press conference and adopted a joint statement as the outcome document of the meeting. This was the first 2+2 ministerial meeting held since the inauguration
By Diplomacy Journal Lee Jon-young | President Yoon Suk-yeol held a summit with Angolan President João Lourenço to exchange views on ways to promote practical cooperation between the two countries and the regional and international situation on April 30. The two leaders noted that friendly and cooperative ties have been steadily developing since the two countries established diplomatic relations in 1992, and noted that recent high-level exchanges at all levels, including a phone call between the leaders last November, have further enhanced bilateral relations. President Yoon expressed his appr
By Diplomacy Journal Lee Kap-soo Following successful negotiations between Vice Minister of Transport of Kazakhstan Talgat Lastayev and Deputy Minister of Land, Infrastructure, and Transport of Korea Lee Yoon-sang in February in Sejong, as well as bilateral aviation consultations in March in Almaty, national flag carrier of Kazakhstan, Air Astana, is set to resume flights between the capitals of the two countries. The resumption of the Astana-Seoul route will begin on June 15, 2024. The flights will be operated twice a week, on Wednesdays and Saturdays, using Airbus A321LR aircraft, each with