By Diplomacy Journal Lee Kap-soo Kim Chun-gon, a member of the Seoul City Council's Environment and Water Resources Committee, met with Ambassador Aida Ismailova of Kyrgyzstan to Korea to discuss revitalizing the wellness industry between the two countries. Rep. Kim met Ambassador Ismailova when she was a member of the Kyrgyz National Assembly in 2018 and reunited with her seven years later when she was appointed Ambassador to the Republic of Kyrgyzstan in 2022. "Korea and Kyrgyzstan are striving to further activate exchanges in the future, and there are many areas for mutual cooperation in th
By Diplomacy Journal Lee Kap-soo SK bioscience has successfully completed a project as the only private company participating in a joint study organized by the World Health Organization (WHO) aimed at establishing an international standard for the SARS virus, in response to the global infectious disease crisis, the company said on Feb. 12. In October of last year, the WHO announced the international standard for the SARS virus, with SK bioscience playing a key role in conducting immunogenicity analysis during this process. The project involved 12 health authorities and institutions leading glo
By Diplomacy Journal Lee Kap-soo Following the visit of Uzbek Ambassador to Korea Alisher Abdusalomov on Feb. 4, Kyrgyz Ambassador to Korea Aida Ismailova visited the digital twin company EGIS' headquarters located in Suseong Alpha City, Daegu on Feb. 5. These ambassadors visited EGIS to express their gratitude for the company's active cooperation, an EGIS spokesman said. EGIS is currently supporting the national digital transformation by participating in pilot operations and feasibility studies for information and communication technology (ICT) cooperation projects such as digital cultural he
By Diplomacy Journal Lee Kap-soo Hwaseong Special City Mayor Chung Myung-geun, along with Hwaseong Chamber of Commerce and Industry Chairman Ahn Sang-gyo, visited the Chinese Embassy in Seoul on Feb. 10 and met with Chinese Ambassador to Korea Dai Bing to discuss economic cooperation. At the meeting, they had an in-depth conversation about China's electric vehicle technology advancement, including the AI DeepSeek, which has recently attracted global attention, and the possibility of Chinese companies investing in Hwaseong City. They also requested the interest and active participation of Chine
By Diplomacy Journal Lee Kap-soo The following article was contributed by the Embassy of Kazakhstsan in Seoul to Diplomacy Journal for publication. --Ed. Kazakhstan has launched three new visa categories designed to attract skilled professionals, entrepreneurs, and remote workers, reinforcing the country’s position as a hub for global talent and innovation. Neo Nomad Visa (B12-1), the Digital Nomad Visa (B9-1), Visa for Permanent Residence (B9) offer flexible pathways for those seeking long-term opportunities in Kazakhstan, whether for career growth, business expansion, or remote work. Neo Nom
By Damwha with Special Feature Editor Hensyc Rhee The Martial Law is 'force' while the Enlightment Order is a 'consciousness reform' measure. When we hear the news these days, we often come across an word 'Mrtial Law,' but an 'Enlightenment Order' may sound a sort of unfamiliar. However, when we look at the Chinese characters, '戒嚴令' and '啓蒙令,' we find them to have similar forms, which makes one feel confused. However, the meaning is completely different from each other. The Martial Law refers to an emergency measure taken by the military to directly control the country when it is in a state of
By Diplomacy Journal Lee Kap-soo The following article was contributed by traditional food master Won Mi-kyoung, former professor of Gyeongju University, through the Embassy of Ghana in Seoul. --Ed. Korean traditional fermented foods are more than just culinary staples; they are an exquisite art form crafted by nature and time, encapsulating Korea’s rich history and cultural heritage. One of the foremost figures dedicated to preserving, modernizing, and globalizing this invaluable tradition is Professor Won Mi-kyoung. The Value and Significance of Tradition As the old adage goes, "The taste of
By Diplomacy Journal Lee Kap-soo Seongnam City Mayor Shin Sang-jin and Saudi Arabia's Ambassador to the Republic of Korea Sami M. Alsadhan met at the city hall on Feb. 6 to discuss cooperation plans to foster high-tech industries between the two countries, the city of Seongnam, Gyeonggi Province, announced. The meeting was held in conjunction with the city's game and cultural content industry, which has developed around Pangyo Techno Valley, and Saudi Arabia's willingness to foster the technology industry. Pangyo Techno Valley is the largest concentration of the game industry in Korea, with ab
By Diplomacy Journal Lee Kap-soo Daegu-Gyeongbuk Free Economic Zone Authority (DGFEZ), led by Commissioner Kim Byung-sam, received Ambassador Alisher Abdusalomov of Uzbekistan to Korea, who visited the free zone on June 6 and discussed cooperation plans. The Uzbek ambassador was accompanied by the head of the General Department of Culture, Education, Health, and Social Affairs and a counsellor. The DGFEZ was represented by Commissioner Kim Byung-sam and Head of Innovation Growth Division Lee Eun-ah. During the meeting, opinions were exchanged on the follow-up status of the trade mission dispat
By Diplomacy Journal Lee Kap-soo Gyeonggi-do Governor Kim Dong-yeon and Canadian Ambassador to Korea Tamara Mawhinney met on Feb. 6 to discuss ways to respond to tariffs, which have become a hot topic since the inauguration of the second Trump administration. According to Gyeonggi-do, the U.S. administration recently announced the imposition of 25 percent tariffs on Canada and Mexico, but decided to suspend them for a month on Feb. 3, one day before the effective date. In addition, in response to the U.S. imposing an additional 10% universal tariff on all Chinese imports, China has announced s
By Diplomacy Journal Lee Kap-soo CEO Lee Eun-jae of Korea Finance for Construction (K-FINCO), a professional construction cooperative, held a meeting with Ukrainian Ambassador to Korea Dmytro Ponomarenko at the cooperative's headquarters in Dongjung-gu, Seoul, on Feb. 6 to strengthen strategic cooperation. The meeting was attended by K-FINCO CEO Lee Eun-jae, Executive Director Park Sung-jin, Ambassador Ponomarenko, and Counselor for Economic Affairs at the Embassy of Ukraine in Seoul. K-FINCO CEO Lee Eun-jae sought ways with the Ukrainian side to jointly explore opportunities for domestic cons
By Diplomacy Journal Lee Kap-soo Uzbek Ambassador to Korea Alisher Abdusalomov visited Daegu City Hall on Feb. 5 to discuss exchange and cooperation with Daegu City Mayor Hong Jun-pyo. The city signed a city of friendship and cooperation agreement with Bukhara Province, Uzbekistan, in August 2022, and has been conducting exchanges in the fields of trade and culture. Located in the heart of Central Asia, Uzbekistan is a country of ‘Special Strategic Partnership’ with the largest Korean diaspora of 172,000 people. The country is considered highly competitive in the energy sector, with the world'
By Diplomacy Journal Lee Kap-soo The following article was contributed by Lim Sung-nam, Global Advisor, Bae, Kim & Lee; Former Vice Foreign Minister, of South Korea, to Diplomacy Journal through the Embassy of Kazakhstan in Seoul. --Ed. What is the general perception of Kazakhstan among Koreans? Many might think of it as a "landlocked country in Central Asia" or "a country where many Koreans live." The fact that only about 40,000 South Koreans visited Kazakhstan in 2024 suggests that the country remains relatively unfamiliar to most Koreans. However, the cooperative relationship between Ko
By Diplomacy Journal Lee Kap-soo Jang Se-il, mayor of Yeonggwang-gun, Jeollanam-do, discussed offshore wind power project cooperation with French Ambassador to Kolrea Philippe Bertoux at the county government office on Feb. 4. According to the county, the meeting was organized to explore ways to create synergy between the two sides in the field of renewable energy. "We have a vision to leap to the center of renewable energy by utilizing the natural conditions of sunlight and wind," said Mayor Jang. "We look forward to realizing carbon neutrality, improving the income of civilians, and revitali
By Diplomacy Journal Lee Kap-soo Acting President and Deputy Prime Minister Choi Sang-mok had luncheon with the ambassadors to Korea from major partner countries in the economic sector on Feb. 4. During the meeting, he emphasized that under the acting presidency, the government is performing its duties in each area including the economy, diplomacy, and security without disruptions, in order to ensure the smooth operation of national governance. He also reaffirmed the commitment to maintaining the current foreign policy direction and to continuing cooperative relations with major countries. The