By Diplomacy Journal Lee Kap-soo On September 8, 2025, President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev delivered his annual state-of-the-nation address, “Kazakhstan in the Era of Artificial Intelligence: Key Tasks and Their Solutions through Digital Transformation.” The Head of State presented an ambitious program of reforms centered on digital transformation, investment, global connectivity, and institutional renewal. At the heart of the address was Kazakhstan’s determination to lead in the AI era. President Tokayev announced the creation of a new Ministry of Artificial Intelligence and Digital Development,
By Diplomacy Journal Lee Kap-soo Deputy Minister for Trade Park Jong-won met with Saskatchewan’s Minister of Trade and Export Development Warren Kaeding in Seoul on September 8, to discuss ways to strengthen bilateral cooperation in industries, critical minerals, and energy. The Canadian province of Saskatchewan is rich in natural resources, including uranium, natural gas, oil, and critical minerals. The province ranks first globally in both potash reserves and production, third in uranium reserves, and second in uranium production. It is also pursuing the introduction of small modular reactor
By Diplomacy Journal Lee Kap-soo The Seoul Metropolitan Government (SMG) announced on Sept. 8 that 1.36 million international tourists visited Seoul in July. This is a 23.1% increase from the same month last year when the figure was 1.1 million, marking the highest monthly record ever. The total showed an 18.2% rise from July 2019, prior to the COVID-19 pandemic. Visitors by country included 470,000 from China, 240,000 from Japan, 160,000 from Taiwan, and 100,000 from the United States. From January to July this year, a total of 8.28 million international tourists visited Seoul, up 15.9% from
By Diplomacy Journal Lee Kap-soo LG Electronics CEO William Cho is advancing the company’s Global South growth strategy through a strategic partnership to provide cooling solutions for an AI data center under development in Oxagon, the industrial hub of Saudi Arabia’s NEOM City project. On September 2 in Riyadh, Cho met with Abdulelah Abunayyan, Chairman of SHAKER Group, the manufacturer and sole distributor of LG Air Conditioners, following the 30th anniversary of the strategic partnership; and Rajit Nanda, CEO of DATAVOLT, a global data infrastructure provider. The parties signed a memorandu
By Diplomacy Journal Lee Kap-soo Minister for Trade Yeo Han-koo met with ambassadors from 18 member states of the Group of Latin America and the Caribbean (GRULAC) in Seoul on September 3, to discuss the global trade environment and explore ways to strengthen economic and trade cooperation between Korea and GRULAC. Attendees included ambassadors from Mexico, Brazil, Argentina, Chile, and Peru. During the meeting, Trade Minister Yeo stated that the multilateral trading system was facing a fundamental challenge amid intensifying geopolitical competition and rising protectionism. He stressed the
By Diplomacy Journal Lee Kap-soo Vice Defense Minister Lee Doo-hee met with Luke Pollard, the UK’s Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for the Armed Forces, at the Ministry of National Defense in Yongsan, Seoul, on August 26 to discuss ways to strengthen bilateral cooperation in defense and the defense industry. The UK Ministry of Defense appoints Parliamentary Under-Secretaries of State to oversee ministerial affairs, defense acquisition, military affairs, and personnel. The Under-Secretary for the Armed Forces is specifically responsible for force readiness and crisis management. Vice Min
By Diplomacy Journal Lee Kap-soo Hanwha Aerospace, and its Europe based subsidiary Hanwha Aerospace Europe, along with the Polish Military Institute of Armament Technology (WITU), have signed a strategic cooperation MOU during the MSPO 2025 international defence exhibition. This agreement paves the way for deeper industrial cooperation and is a foundational step toward strengthening Poland's sovereign defence capabilities, particularly in the ammunition sector. Under this MOU, Hanwha Aerospace and WITU have agreed to collaborate on various aspects of ammunition technology, including the design
By Diplomacy Journal Lee Kap-soo The Korean-German Chamber of Commerce and Industry (KGCCI, President & CEO Marie Antonia von Schönburg) hosted “Guide Walkers” joint CSR event on September 7, 2025, at Sangam World Cup Park in Seoul, South Korea. This year’s event marked a milestone, with over 700 colleagues and partners from KGCCI and its member companies joining as “Guide Walkers” for individuals with visual impairments at the 11th Harmony Marathon with the Visually Impaired, co-organized by Seoul Disabled Sports Association and KGCCI. Launched in 2023 to commemorate 140th anniversary of
By Diplomacy Journal Lee Kap-soo The Korean-German Chamber of Commerce and Industry (KGCCI, President & CEO Marie Antonia von Schönburg), in cooperation with the German Embassy Seoul and think tank adelphi under the Korean-German Energy Partnership, supported by RWE Renewables, TÜV SÜD, Maschinenfabrik Reinhausen, Skyborn Renewables, and BayWa r.e., hosted the 2025 Korean-German Business Forum on Offshore Wind Energy on September 5 at the Four Seasons Hotel Seoul. Held under the theme of “Offshore Wind Special Act and Beyond,” the forum brought together over 200 key stakeholders from Korea
By Diplomacy Journal Lee Kap-soo Defense Minister Ahn Gyu-back visited the Marine Corps Special Reconnaissance Battalion on Aug. 27, emphasizing that training should be rigorous and practical to develop conditioned reflexes through realistic exercises. Defense Minister Ahn visited the Marine Corps Special Reconnaissance Battalion and a small unit under the 2nd Marine Division, where he inspected their readiness posture and encouraged soldiers engaged in security operations. Defense Minister Ahn Gyu-back became the first defense minister to visit Maldo Island, a front-line island on the West Se
By Diplomacy Journal Lee Kap-soo Hanwha Aerospace has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with leading Estonian software companies Nortal and SensusQ on September 3 at the International Defence Industry Exhibition (MSPO) in Poland. This agreement establishes a partnership to jointly develop a state-of-the-art Battlefield Management System (BMS) for a wide range of platforms including Hanwha’s Redback Infantry Fighting Vehicle (IFV). BMS is an essential tool for military operations, providing integrated information acquisition and processing to enhance command and control. It provides a
By Diplomacy Journal Lee Kap-soo The Ministry of SMEs and Startups hosted Global Startup Day in Jeju in conjunction with the APEC Small and Medium Enterprises Ministerial Meeting (SMEMM) at the Jeju International Convention Center (ICC JEJU) for two days, from September 3 to September 4, 2025. As one of the sectoral ministerial meetings of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC), the APEC SMEMM has been held annually since 1994 to discuss issues concerning SMEs, startups, and micro enterprises within the APEC region. This event was organized under the goal of realizing the three core agen
By Diplomacy Journal Lee Kap-soo The Korea Institute of Machinery and Materials (KIMM), under the National Research Council of Science & Technology (NST), will host the 2025 Global Forum on Mechanical Engineering on September 26 at the National Assembly Library Auditorium in Seoul. The forum is co-organized with National Assembly members Seung-Rae Cho and Jung-A Hwang of the Democratic Party of Korea, and Hyung-Doo Choi and Chung-Kwon Park of the People Power Party. This year marks the 12th annual forum, under the theme “The Future of Humanoid AI and Robotics.” The forum will examine the e
By Diplomacy Journal Lee Kap-soo Minister for Trade Yeo Han-koo met with the UK’s Minister of State at the Department for Business and Trade Douglas Alexander in Seoul on September 1. The two sides exchanged views on industrial and trade policy directions in the current global trade environment and discussed ways to expand bilateral cooperation. The UK is Korea’s 25th-largest trading partner, with bilateral trade totaling $11.2 billion in 2024. Since the Korea-UK Free Trade Agreement (FTA) entered into force in January 2011, trade between the two countries has remained strong. The UK is also o
By Diplomacy Journal Lee Kap-soo Samsung Electronics introduced the new Sound Tower (ST50F and ST40F models), its latest innovation in portable audio on Sept. 3. Built for large gatherings, these new models combine advanced acoustic technology with a dynamic, modern design to deliver an immersive party experience through both light and sound. “The new Sound Tower sets a new standard in how consumers experience entertainment in both indoor and outdoor settings,” said Hun Lee, Executive Vice President of the Visual Display Business at Samsung Electronics. “With customizable lighting effects and