By Diplomacy Journal Lee Kap-soo Korea-Saudi Business and Investment Forum was launched on May 9 in Seoul. The forum is anticipated to catalyze economic cooperation between the two countries across new and cutting-edge areas like digital, advanced manufacturing, clean energy, healthcare, and culture, the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy (MOTIE) said. Part of an aim to strengthen Korea-Saudi partnership in line with the Saudi Vision 2030, the forum brings together 250 business leaders of both countries to seek collaboration and tangible opportunities around promising new industries such a
By Diplomacy Journal Kayla Lee Governor Oh Young-hoon of Jeju Special Self-Governing Province held a meeting with Ben Nelson, founder of Minerva University, a world-class innovative education institution in the U.S., at the Buyeong Hotel on May 12, and held in-depth discussions on future educational cooperation. During the meeting, Governor Oh said, “I hope that a cooperation model with Minerva University will be established in the fields of carbon neutrality, energy transition policy in 2035, and private space industry, which Jeju Island is promoting.” “In these fields, Jeju University has hu
By Diplomacy Journal Kayla Lee Jeju Special Self-Governing Province will further expand its exchange and cooperation with APEC member economies on the occasion of the 2025 Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Education Ministers' Meeting in Jeju. On May 13, Jeju Governor Oh Young-hoon met with the senior delegations of Indonesia, Malaysia, and the United States attending the APEC Education Ministers' Meeting at the Jeju International Convention Center (ICC) to discuss global location programs and ways to expand human and cultural exchanges. In a meeting with Abdul Muti, Indonesia's Ministe
By Diplomacy Journal Lee Kap-soo The Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy (MOTIE) and the Embassy of the Republic of Uzbekistan in Korea co-hosted the Korea-Uzbekistan Insight Forum at the Embassy in Seoul on May 13. The forum was held with the participation of both countries’ governments and related institutions, aiming to further enhance Korea-Uzbekistan economic cooperation. Forum participants shared the growing need for mutual cooperation between the two countries in view of their special strategic partnership, highlighting the importance of tangible cooperation in not only trade and inv
By Diplomacy Journal Lee Kap-soo Kim Min-jong, president of Korea Institute of Maritime and Fisheries Technology (KIMFT), met with Chilean Ambassador to Korea Mathias Francke at the KIMFT office in Busan in April. They discussed cooperation in the field of maritime education and training and sign a business agreement, the KIMFT announced on May 13. The visit was aimed at signing a business agreement between the KIMFT and the Chilean Ministry of Defense for continued cooperation in the field of maritime education and training, including mutual cooperation in lectures and training activities, in
By Diplomacy Journal Kayla Lee Minister of Foreign Affairs Cho Tae-yul visited on May 8 a special exhibition on the Tongsinsa (delegation from the Joseon Dynasty to Japan), which is under way at the Seoul Museum of History under the theme “Bonds of the Heart, Waves of Resonance.” The exhibition, which is being held in cooperation between Korean and Japanese museums to commemorate the 60th anniversary of the normalization of diplomatic relations between the two countries, features 128 artifacts related to the Tongsinsa. As such, it serves as an opportunity to look back on the footsteps of the T
By Diplomacy Journal Lee Kap-soo HL Group Chairman Chung Mong-won has been named an honorary citizen of the city of Wałbrzych, Poland. According to HL Group, Chairman Chung became the 15th honorary citizen of the city of Wałbrzych, on April 29 (local time). He was recognized for his 14 years of contributions to the community since opening the HL-Mando auto parts plant in the city in 2011. HL MANDO Poland is the only Korean company in the city of Wałbrzych. The combined size of factories 1 and 2 is approximately 165,000 square meters, producing automotive parts such as brakes, steering, and sus
By Diplomacy Journal Lee Jon-young Jeju Island hosted an international conference on creating a sustainable labor market and quality jobs in the Asia-Pacific region. The Jeju Special Self-Governing Province announced on May 12 that the 2025 Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Employment and Labor Ministers' Meeting was held at the Jeju International Convention Center (ICC) Tamra Hall under the theme of “Sustainable Labor Markets and Jobs for the Future. More than 200 people attended the meeting, including Jeju Island Governor Oh Young-hoon, Deputy Minister of Employment and Labor Kim Min-
By Diplomacy Journal Lee Kap-soo | The American Chamber of Commerce in Korea (AMCHAM) signed a tripartite Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with General Motors Korea (GM Korea) and the Korea Chamber of Commerce and Industry (KCCI) on May 8 to jointly promote the “Buy America” campaign. The agreement builds on a strong foundation of collaboration among the three organizations to further expand the campaign’s impact. This agreement is designed to foster a fair business environment and improve consumer access to GM vehicles in Korea through mutual cooperation. It also supports the broader objecti
By Diplomacy Journal Kayla Lee The Korea Tourism Organization (KTO) has appointed Indian actress Hina Khan as an honorary ambassador for Korean tourism, the KTO said on May 12. Hina Khan is beloved as a “national actor” in India for her role in the popular drama “What Kind of Relationship Do We Have?” which has aired for the longest time in India. Hina Khan, who is visiting Korea for the first time, will stay in Korea until May 13 and enjoy the diverse charms of Korea. She visited Bukchon Hanok Village, the filming location of the popular Korean drama in India, “Goblin,” the stone walls of Deo
By Diplomacy Journal Lee Kap-soo The following article was contributed by Dr. Mohammed Mustafa Juma Almuntafeky, Head of Mission of the Embassy of the Republic of Iraq in Seoul, to Diplomacy Journal for publication. –Ed. The Iraqi economy has witnessed significant and remarkable improvements over the past few years. According to the latest international economic indicators, Iraq has entered a new phase of recovery and growth, amid significant transformations that reflect a tangible improvement in economic performance and enhance confidence in the national economy among local and international
By Diplomacy Journal Lee Kap-soo Yoon Young-mi, chairman of Korea Importers Association (KOIMA), held a meeting with Ecuadorian Ambassador to Korea Patricio Esteban Troya Suarez at the KOIMA office in Seoul on May 8 to discuss ways to expand bilateral trade. “Ecuador is a country that is competitive in various industries such as shrimp, bananas, cacao, coffee, and flowers,” said Ambassador Suarez, ”and we are about to sign the Strategic Economic Cooperation Agreement (SECA) to expand trade with Korea.” He added that he hopes the agreement will further strengthen the partnership as a hub for ex
By Diplomacy Journal Kayla Lee An international conference co-hosted by Korean Association for Public Value (KAPV) and the Embassy of Morocco in Korea was held at the Museum Auditorium on the main campus of Gyeongsang National University on May 8. The conference was held under the theme of 'Strengthening Multi-dimensional Cooperation between Korea and Morocco' to explore practical ways of cooperation between the two countries. Founded in 2020, the KAPV aims to conduct interdisciplinary research on public value and has been publishing the Journal of Public Value twice a year. In particular, it
By Diplomacy Journal Lee Kap-soo Cardinal Robert Prevost of the United States has been elected the first US pontiff in the 2,000-year history of the Catholic Church and has taken the name Pope Leo XIV, the Vatican News reported. Pope Leo made his first public appearance to impart a blessing from the roofed area of St Peter’s Basilica. In his first public words, Pope Leo told the faithful “peace be with all of you”. He emphasised the theme of peace throughout the address. He told the crowd, “Evil will not prevail; we are in the hands of God. So without fear, united hand in hand with God and amo
By Diplomacy Journal Lee Kap-soo SML Biopharm, a South Korea-based biotech company specializing in mRNA-based therapeutics, announced on May 8 that it has signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with French biotechnology firm Affilogic to collaborate on the development of next-generation targeted drugs using mRNA-LNP (lipid nanoparticle) technology. The agreement aims to integrate Affilogic’s proprietary Nanofitin targeting technology with SML Biopharm’s mRNA-LNP platform. Under the MOU, the two companies will explore opportunities to combine their respective core technologies to develop in