By Lee Kap-soo Dear readers of Diplomacy Journal, Philippines and Korea relations ended 2023 on a high note with a number of milestones, increased exchanges, and a re-affirmation of our commitment to common goals based on shared values. One of the highlights was the signing of the Philippines-Korea Free Trade Agreement on September 7, 2023 at the sidelines of the 43rd ASEAN Summit in Jakarta by Philippine Trade and Industry Minister Alfredo Pascual and Korea Trade Minister Ahn Duk-geun and witnessed by Philippine President Ferdinand R. Marcos, Jr. and Korean President Yoon Suk-yeol. The past y
By Lee Kap-soo Hyundai Motor Company and Mubadala Investment Company “Mubadala”, an Abu Dhabi-based global sovereign investor, have signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) to jointly explore potential business opportunities and synergies for future mobility and technologies. The signing ceremony, which took place on Dec. 15 in Abu Dhabi, was attended by Jaehoon Chang, President and CEO of Hyundai Motor Company, and Waleed Al Mokarrab Al Muhairi, Deputy Group Chief Executive Officer of Mubadala Investment Company. This marks the beginning of a strategic collaboration that will drive progress
By Lee Kap-soo The tourism potential of the Aktobe region in Kazakhstan was presented at the Road Show - “Visit Aktobe 2023”- on Dec. 11. The event was attended by representatives of leading tour operators, airlines, tourism experts as well as the media of the two countries. As part of the event, guests were familiarized with popular tourist routes of the Aktobe region, and the best works of Aktobe designers, artisans and jewelers were demonstrated. The guests were particularly interested in stands with traditional Kazakh sweets and treats. Opening the event, Ambassador Nurgali Arystanov of Ka
By Lee Kap-soo The Embassy of Azerbaijan in Seoul held an event dedicated to the Memorial Day of Azerbaijan’s national leader Heydar Aliyev at Four Seasons Hotel in Seoul on Dec. 11. Delivering welcoming remarks at the event in honor of its national leader Heydar Aliyev, Amb. Ramin M. Hasanov of Azerbaijan to Korea said, “We celebrate the 100th anniversary of the birth of Heydar Aliyev, the National Leader of Azerbaijani people, the founder and architect of the modern, mighty, independent state of Azerbaijan. “Heydar Aliyev, with his charismatic personality, successfully saved Azerbaijani peop
By Lee Kap-soo POSCO Group is cooperating with the College of Humanities and Social Sciences of Ho Chi Minh National University to acquire outstanding talents in Vietnam. ] POSCO Group Chairman Jeong-woo Choi inked a memorandum of understanding for industry-academia collaboration with Ngo Thi Phuong Lan, dean of the College of Humanities and Social Sciences of Ho Chi Minh National University on Dec. 7, focusing on securing outstanding talents for the group’s Vietnamese subsidiaries. The College of Humanities and Social Sciences is the premier institution in the humanities and social sciences f
By Lee Kap-soo (New Year Message) Dear readers of the Diplomacy Journal, At these blissful moments, I sincerely wish you and your family a wonderful year ahead with hopes anew, sound health and happiness! The outgoing year has stood out as the one with bright events, Uzbekistan has furthered significant goals. New steps were taken towards boosting the potential and competitiveness of our country. Leading spheres and branches of the national economy are advancing dynamically. Modern enterprises built on high technologies as well as new transport and communications networks are being commissione
By Lee Kap-soo | Amid ongoing bombardment in the Gaza Strip, UN agencies and humanitarian partners continue to provide desperately needed food, water, healthcare and other services to the more than two million people living there. This Thursday (Dec. 7) marks two months since conflict erupted after Hamas militants stormed southern Israel, killing some 1,200 people and seizing more than 200 hostages, prompting Israel to launch a massive military operation in Gaza. Martin Griffiths, UN Humanitarian Coordinator and head of its emergency relief office, OCHA, on Thursday upheld the commitment of ai
By Lee Jon Young | UN Secretary-General António Guterres on Dec. 11 urged a deal at COP28 on the phaseout of fossil fuels, telling negotiators that “now is the time for maximum ambition and maximum flexibility,” as UN climate talks in Dubai head into the home stretch. As COP28 entered its final 48 hours, the UN chief delivered a clear message to government negotiators: “We must conclude the conference with an ambitious outcome that demonstrates decisive action and a credible plan to keep 1.5-degree goal alive, protecting those on the frontlines of the climate crisis.” Negotiators are engaged i
By Lee Kap-soo (New Year Message) Dear readers of the Diplomacy Journal, On behalf of the Embassy of Georgia to the Republic of Korea, I am delighted to extend our warmest season’s greetings to the friendly people and esteemed Government of the Republic of Korea for the New Year 2024! We heartily convey our best wishes for abundant success and prosperity to all our Korean friends and partners, the representatives of the Diplomatic Corps and to the readers of the Diplomacy Journal in the upcoming year! Since the establishment of diplomatic relations on December 14, 1992, Georgia and Korea have
By Lee Kap-soo French Ambassador Philippe Bertoux and German Ambassador Georg Schmidt in Seoul commemorated the end of World War I by paying tribute to the victims. According to the French Embassy in Seoul on Nov. 10, Ambassadors Bertoux and Schmidt attended the 105th World War I Armistice Day ceremony at the War Memorial in Yongsan-gu, Seoul, and paid tribute to the victims. The event commemorates the 105th anniversary of the end of World War I the following day. Ambassador Bertoux said it was meaningful to co-host the ceremony with his German counterpart. "The deep friendship that links our
By Lee Kap-soo (New Year Message) Dear readers of the Diplomacy Journal, On the occasion of Christmas and New year, the Embassy of the Republic of Iraq is happy to extend our biggest congratulations, blessing and best regards to your esteemed Journal. We wish you good health, prosperity and success, along with the achievements in your work, prosperity and progress of our friendly country. May the new year be a year full of energy, vitality and achievements that you aspire to accomplish. We are keen on to follow up with your great interest as we believe it deals with many international, diploma
By Lee Jon-young National Assembly Speaker Kim Jin-pyo met with Chilean Ambassador to Korea Mathias Francke on Nov. 10. From November 11 to 22, Kim will officially visit three countries, Mexico, Chile, and Indonesia, for 12 days, to make a last-ditch effort to attract the 2030 Busan World Expo. In Chile, Kim will meet with the Speaker of the House of Representatives and the President of the Senate to request support for the 2030 Busan Expo, strengthen supply chain cooperation, including lithium, a key mineral for battery cathodes, and discuss ways to expand into the green energy sector, includ
By Lee Jon-young A world-renowned investor Jim Rogers, chairman of Rogers Holdings, said on Nov. 11, "If the Military Demarcation Line (DML) is opened, I would like to invite people like the K-pop girl group Blackpink and have a big party." After meeting with Unification Minister Kim Young-ho at the Government Complex in Sejong-ro, Seoul, later in the day, he also said, "I would also invite bands from North Korea." "If Martians came, they would have a hard time believing (the reality of the North-South division)," he said, adding, "They would say, 'We speak the same language, we're in the same
By Kayla Lee On December 8, Minister of Foreign Affairs Park Jin had a meeting with Minister of Foreign Affairs of Mexico Alicia Bárcena Ibarra, who was on a visit to Korea from December 7 to 10. In the meeting, the two sides discussed Korea-Mexico relations, substantive cooperation and cooperation on the international stage. The Korea-Mexico Foreign Ministers’ meeting came merely about one month after the one held on the sidelines of the Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Summit in San Francisco on November 15. Foreign Minister Bárcena was visiting Korea for consultations with the Korea
By Kayla Lee Kim Eui-seung, 1st Deputy Mayor for Administration of Seoul City, visited the workplace of public servants and listened to their voices, and gave a lecture to explain Seoul Mayor Oh Se-hoon's 'Together Attractive, Creative Administration Strategy' in his term. Deputy Mayor Kim attended the 'Inauguration Ceremony of the 8th Health and Environment Research Institute Branch of the Seoul Public Employees' Union' held at 4 p.m. on Nov. 10 at the Seoul Institute of Health and Environment Research in Yangjae-dong, Seocho-gu, Seoul, and delivered a special lecture on 'Creative Administrat