By Diplomacy Journal Lee Kap-soo President Yoon Suk-yeol embarked on a state visit to three Central Asian countries on June 10, expanding the scope of economic cooperation, including the supply chain for key minerals. The three-nation trip, which follows the establishment of the Korea-Central Asia Summit and the so-called “K-Silk Road” initiative, is the third part of Yoon's regional strategy after the Indo-Pacific Strategy and the ASEAN-Korea Solidarity Initiative. According to the presidential office, Yoon will travel to Turkmenistan (June 10-11), Kazakhstan (June 11-13), and Uzbekistan (Jun
Diplomacy Journal Kayla Lee | To commemorate the 32nd anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between Korea and Belarus, the Diplomatic Journal and the UN Journal are co-hosting a cultural exchange exhibition with the Embassy of Belarus in Seoul from July 3-8 at the Grand Hall on the third floor of the Maru Art Center in Insa-dong, Seoul. In particular, the exchange exhibition will feature 20 tourist photographs of Belarus, 11 works by Belarusian color magician Marc Chagall, and 30 works by Korean folk artists. Marc Chagall is a French expressionist painter who is called “the
By Diplomacy Journal Lee Kap-soo First lady Kim Keon-hee hosted the Korea-Africa Summit Spouses’ Program at the Blue House on June 4. The event was organized by Mrs. Kim to invite the spouses of the heads of state of the 13 African countries visiting Korea for the Korea-Africa Summit to share Korean traditional culture and continue exchanges. In her remarks at the luncheon, Mrs. Kim said, “Korea has experienced miraculous growth in a short period of time after rising from the ashes of war more than 60 years ago, and Africa is also gaining global attention as the fastest-growing continent. This
Diplomacy Journal Jon Lee | Journalist Lee JY’s photo exploration
By Diplomacy Journal Lee Joon-seok | Good Call & AT LAB, led by Chairman Lee Won-jung, are cultivating and processing high quality agricultural products (functional agricultural products) with their own patents and technologies, cultivating and distributing functional agricultural products with local governments and local agricultural cooperatives in various parts of Korea, and conducting safety and efficacy evaluation projects (animal experiments) with the Korea Institute of Oriental Medicine and efficacy evaluation projects (clinical trials) with Wonkwang Oriental University Hospital. In
Diplomacy Journal Jon Lee | President Yoon Suk-yeol held bilateral meetings with President William Samoei Ruto of Kenya, President Andry Nirina Rajoelina of Madagascar, President Joseph Nyumah Boakai of Liberia, and President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo of Ghana, who are attending the Korea-Africa Summit on June 4. (June 4-5). During the morning session of the Korea-Africa Summit, President Yoon said that he could feel the will and sincerity of the leaders to promote Korea-Africa cooperation by listening to their remarks, and he looks forward to realizing the vast potential of each other as th
By Diplomacy Journal Kayla Lee The “Korea-Africa Key Minerals Dialogue” will be launched to strengthen global supply chain cooperation between Korea and Africa. In addition, they will jointly endeavor to ensure the stable supply of key minerals and promote technical cooperation related to key minerals based on mutual agreement. President Yoon Suk-yeol signed the joint declaration with the heads of state or government of 48 African countries at the Korea-Africa Summit held in Gyeonggi Province on June 4. Africa holds 30 percent of the world's mineral resources, including key raw materials for t
By Diplomacy Journal Lee Kap-soo “Any Korean company, which might be interested to invest in tourism and hospitality industry in Croatia, can find a very attractive business opportunity,” said Ambassador H.E. Damir Kušen of Croatia in Seoul. Delivering welcome speech at the Croatian-Korean Business Forum held at Coryo Daeyeongak Tower in Seoul, Amb. Kusen said, “Let me remind you that Croatia has more than 1700 kilometers of the coastline with a lot of opportunities for building tourism infrastructure and facilities. With an introduction of the new direct flights between Seoul and Zagreb, the
Diplomacy Journal Jon Lee | President Yoon Suk-yeol held his first bilateral meeting with Sierra Leone on the sidelines of the Korea-Africa Summit on May 31. During the meeting with Sierra Leonean President Julius Maada Bio at the Yongsan Presidential Office, President Yoon signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) on Trade and Investment Promotion Framework (TIPF) to expand bilateral trade and investment cooperation. In addition, the 'K-Rice Belt' project, which is underway since 2023, will contribute to improving agricultural productivity in Sierra Leone, as well as education and health sec
By Diplomacy Journal Lee Jon-young President Yoon Suk-yeol on June 3 held a series of bilateral meetings with African leaders who are in South Korea for the Korea-Africa Summit to discuss issues of mutual interest. From morning to afternoon, Yoon held bilateral talks with the leaders of 10 African countries, according to the presidential office. In the morning, Yoon held separate meetings with six African leaders: Lesotho Prime Minister Ntsokoane Samuel Matekane, Côte d'Ivoire President Alassane Ouattara, Mauritius President Prithvirajsing Roopun, Zimbabwe President Emmerson Dambudzo Mnangagwa
By Diplomacy Journal Lee Jon-young President Yoon Suk-yeol and First Lady Kim Keon-hee hosted an official welcome dinner on June 3 at the Shilla Hotel in Seoul for more than 60 heads of state and delegates from 48 African countries, who are visiting Korea for the Korea-Africa Summit (June 4-5). Prior to the dinner, the President and Mrs. Yoon received the African heads of state and government, exchanged pleasantries and took commemorative photos. The President couple then entered the dinner hall together amid the applause of the guests. “Korea's economic growth is the result of a trinity of ef
Diplomacy Journal Jon Lee | President Yoon Suk-yeol held a summit with Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed Ali, who is visiting South Korea for the Korea-Africa Summit, on June 2 and agreed on the need to thoroughly implement sanctions against North Korea to block its nuclear and missile development in violation of UN Security Council resolutions. According the presidential office, the two leaders discussed the issue during a dinner meeting at the Yongsan presidential office. The two leaders plan to cooperate closely on the international diplomatic stage, including Ethiopia's support for South
By Diplomacy Journal Lee Jon-young President Yoon Suk-yeol met with Tanzanian President Samia Suluhu Hassan on June 2 to announce the start of negotiations on the Economic Partnership Agreement (EPA) and discuss strengthening cooperation on key mineral resources. President Yoon held a luncheon meeting with President Hassan, who is visiting South Korea for the Korea-Africa Summit, at the Yongsan Presidential Office later in the day. It has been 18 years since former President Jakaya Kikwete visited Korea in 2006. “Today, I am pleased to announce the start of negotiations on an Economic Partners
By Diplomacy Journal Lee Kap-soo SK Group Chairman Chey Tae-won was ordered by an appellate court on May 30 to pay his estranged wife Roh So-young, the former late President Roh Tae-woo's only daughter, 1.38 trillion won (US$1 bil.) in property division and 2 billion won in alimony as part of his divorce from Roh. As for Choi's shares in SK Inc., a group holding company, which were not recognized as property to be divided in the first trial, the second trial ruled that the shares were subject to property division, saying that Roh had a contributory share. As the second trial court in the divor
By Diplomacy Journal Lee Jon-young President Yoon Suk-yeol received the new commander of U.S. Indo-Pacific Command, Admiral Samuel Paparo, on May 30and congratulated him on his assumption of command and asked him to make efforts to strengthen the alliance's defense posture. The President praised Admiral Paparo's contributions to the defense of the Korean Peninsula over the past three years as commander of the U.S. Pacific Fleet, and expressed his excitement about his familiarity with the security situation on the Korean Peninsula. The President called for the U.S. Indo-Pacific Command's active