By Diplomacy Journal Lee Kap-soo From September 20 to 28, Nami Island in Gangwon-do hosted the “Peru Week”, a cultural event featuring a variety of activities celebrating Peruvian heritage and traditions. The program was designed for both Korean and international visitors of all ages, in coordination with the Embassy of Peru in the Republic of Korea. The weeklong celebration offered visitors a chance to experience Peru’s cultural and natural heritage, featuring art exhibitions, music and dance performances, and hands-on activities. It drew thousands of Korean and international tourists who flo
By Diplomacy Journal Lee Kap-soo Higgsfield AI has officially become Kazakhstan’s first unicorn startup, surpassing a $1 billion valuation, announced co-founder and former Head of Generative AI at Snap Inc. Alex Mashrabov on Sept. 28. According to Mashrabov, the company recently crossed a $50 million run-rate revenue threshold, marking a historic milestone for Kazakhstan’s tech ecosystem. “For the last 15 years, no company in our country has managed to achieve this,” he said. Higgsfield AI’s journey to unicorn status was fueled by investments from leading global funds, including Menlo Ventures
By Diplomacy Journal Lee Kap-soo Tajikistan took center stage in a series of major cultural events across the Republic of Korea, underscoring the deepening partnership between Central Asia and Korea. The events, held in collaboration with the Korea Foundation, the Asian Cultural Center (ACC), and the Central Asia-Korea Friendship Association, featured celebrated Tajik art, fashion, and music. The celebrations kicked off on September 30, 2025, in Seoul with the 7th Central Asian-Republic of Korea Friendship Day. A highlight of the day was a stunning fashion show presenting Tajikistan's national
By Diplomacy Journal Lee Kap-soo As part of the celebration of the Central Asia–Korea Friendship Day, a traditional fashion show highlighted the cultural diversity and rich creative traditions of the countries of the region and Korea on Sept. 30, 2025. The event was organized by the Central Asia–Korea Friendship Association. The ceremony was attended by President of the Association Lee Ok Ryun, President of the Asian Cultural Center Kim Sangug, diplomats of Central Asian countries, representatives of the business community, and creative groups. In his welcoming remarks, Ambassador Nurgali Arys
By Diplomacy Journal Lee Kap-soo The Embassy of the Dominican Republic in the Republic of Korea, together with ProDominicana, successfully hosted the “Dominican Republic–Korea Business Forum: Strategic Horizons – Exploring a Land of Opportunities for Korean Companies in the Dominican Republic.” The event brought together over 50 representatives of leading Korean companies, senior government officials, ambassadors and members of the Diplomatic Corps accredited in Seoul, media outlets, and distinguished figures from civil society. Among the distinguished participants were Mr. Lee Jooil, Director
By Diplomacy Journal Lee Kap-soo The Embassy of India, Seoul successfully organized a mini-marathon event ‘Viksit Bharat Run 2025 (Developed India Run)’ on September 28, 2025 as part of a global campaign across 150+ cities in the world. The vibrant mini marathon event aimed at fostering community spirit, promoting fitness, a healthy lifestyle, and also highlighted India's journey towards becoming a developed nation by 2047. Despite heavy rain, 120+ members of the Indian diaspora & Friends of India in Korea joined the spirited 3 km run, celebrating fitness, unity & India’s vision of bec
By Diplomacy Journal Lee Kap-soo The Embassy of India, Seoul organized a Press Conference at the Swami Vivekananda Cultural Centre (SVCC), Embassy of India on the upcoming 11th edition of Sarang: The Festival of India in the Republic of Korea (ROK). Sarang is an annual flagship cultural event celebrated by the Embassy of India in ROK, organized in collaboration with various local partners. Sarang intends to introduce India's vibrant and diverse culture to the friends in ROK, through a landscape of varied art forms. Since its inception in 2015, the festival has grown immensely in its size and p
By Diplomacy Journal Lee Kap-soo Azerbaijan commemorated the 5th anniversary of the beginning of its 44-day Patriotic War on September 27, 2025, which brought an end to almost 30 years of the illegal occupation of Azerbaijani territories. Five years ago, the Armed Forces of Azerbaijan resolutely responded to historical injustice against their country and ended serious violations of Azerbaijan’s territorial integrity and sovereignty as well as of international law. In recognition of the profound respect and gratitude owed to the heroes of chronicle of this history, who laid down their lives or
By Diplomacy Journal Lee Kap-soo The Korean-German Chamber of Commerce and Industry (KGCCI, President & CEO Marie Antonia von Schönburg) and the French-Korean Chamber of Commerce and Industry (FKCCI, CEO Sonia Chaieb) co-hosted a special reception with Korean Minister of Trade, Industry and Energy Kim Jung-kwan on September 29 at the Banyan Tree Club and Spa Hotel in Seoul. The reception provided a platform to discuss recent developments in economic policy, foreign investment, and the overall business climate for German, French, and other European companies operating in Korea. Around 200 r
By Diplomacy Journal Lee Kap-soo LG Electronics (LG) announced the success of its AI-powered Radio Optimism campaign on Sept. 25, which revealed a universal truth: despite the rapid advances in technology, love and gratitude toward family and loved ones remain life’s foremost priorities. Available in six languages, the creative platform inspired people globally to create more than 700,000 personalized songs. These AI-generated tracks – listened to and shared over 1.5 million times – underscored the enduring importance of human connection across cultures. Designed to counter the sense of discon
By Diplomacy Journal Lee Kap-soo The American Chamber of Commerce in Korea (AMCHAM) co-hosted an “AMCHAM Insights” session on September 23 with Bae, Kim & Lee LLC (BKL). Held at BKL’s headquarters in Jongno, the event drew more than 140 senior executives from Korean and multinational companies. The program featured a high-level Fireside Chat on U.S.-Korea relations, a panel discussion on the Lee Jae-myung administration’s policy priorities, and a networking reception that brought together leaders across industries. The evening opened with a Fireside Chat between AMCHAM Chairman & CEO J
By Diplomacy Journal Lee Kap-soo “Croatia is one of the most beautiful countries in Europe. We have a very rich cultural and historical heritage which is part of the UNESCO collection,” said Kristjan Stanicic, director of the Croatian National Tourist Board (CNTB) on Sept. 26. At the Croatia Workshop Seoul 2025 held at Seoul Pullman Hotel, Kristjan Stanicic said, ”We have eight national parks boasting of really beautiful nature. We have astonishing and very diverse gastronomy. And I have to say, for example, that we have the best olive oils in the world.‘’ He stressed, “In the world, we are th
By Diplomacy Journal Lee Kap-soo Nurgali Arystanov, Ambassador of Kazakhstan to Korea: “For Alatau City, the most ideal partner is Korea.” Kazakhstan’s Ambassador to Korea, Nurgali Arystanov, stated in an interview with Diplomacy Journal on the 24th that “Korea combines speed with strong momentum while remaining firmly focused on its goals and direction,” adding that “Korea is the most ideal partner for advancing the Alatau City project.” The Alatau City project, launched in 2023, is a major national strategic initiative for Kazakhstan, marking the start of the country’s transition from a reso
By Diplomacy Journal Lee Kap-soo Kazakhstan’s President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev called for comprehensive UN reform, stronger global cooperation, and urgent steps toward peace, sustainability, and digital equity in a time of mounting instability during the Sept. 23 General Debate of the 80th session of the UN General Assembly in New York. In his statement, President Tokayev underscored the urgent need for a comprehensive reform of the UN system. Reflecting on the institution’s eight-decade legacy, Tokayev acknowledged the UN’s central role in addressing global challenges – but warned that the cur
By Diplomacy Journal Lee Kap-soo Hanwha Aerospace, Hanwha Systems, and Hanwha Ocean jointly hosted an event to honor U.S. Korean War veterans by inviting them to the company's facilities in South Gyeongsang Province on September 22. Under the Korean Ministry of Patriots and Veterans Affairs’ "Revisit Korea Program," the event took place from September 18-20. It included participants like Lois R. Gwyn (98), a former naval nurse who served on the USS HAVEN, and Robert M. Martinez (94), a U.S. Army sergeant who fought in defense of Korea. A total of 85 participants, including U.S. service members