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
By Diplomacy Journal Lee Kap-soo The Ministry of Environment and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs has dispatched a ‘Korea-Kazakhstan Water Industry Cooperation Delegation’ to Kazakhstan from September 1 to 5 to support the entry of domestic water industry companies into Central Asia and to strengthen cooperation in the water sector. Kazakhstan, as a downstream country of transboundary rivers in Central Asia, relies heavily on external sources for water, with about 45% of its water resources flowing in from neighboring countries, which drives strong interest in sustainable water management techn
By Diplomacy Journal Lee Kap-soo A lecture by Ambassador of Kazakhstan Nurgali Arystanov was held in Seoul on the occasion of the Constitution Day of the Republic of Kazakhstan on August 30, 2025. The event was organized with the support of the international youth organization HOBY Korea. In his speech, the Ambassador emphasized that the Constitution of Kazakhstan has become a solid legal foundation for independence, democracy, and sustainable development of the state. The Basic Law enshrines the rights and freedoms of citizens, defines the country’s strategic course for modernization and refo
By Diplomacy Journal Lee Kap-soo LG Electronics presents “Park Seo-Bo x LG OLED TV: Colors Drawn from Nature” at Frieze Seoul 2025 (September 3–6), marking the company’s fourth year as Headline Partner. In collaboration with the PARKSEOBO FOUNDATION, LG OLED TV celebrates one of Korea’s most revered contemporary artists by faithfully expressing his distinctive color philosophy through the unmatched precision of LG’s self-lit OLED technology. Starting this year, LG also expands the Frieze art fair experience to LG TV owners through LG Gallery+, a personal curation service that allows users to d
By Diplomacy Journal Lee Kap-soo The Seoul Metropolitan Government (SMG) announced on Sept. 1 that more than 10 million people have visited Dongdaemun Design Plaza (DDP), which marks its 11th year as a landmark of Seoul. A surge is expected during autumn and winter, with many events and exhibitions planned for the year-end. Total visitors this year are expected to exceed 20 million. During last year’s 10th anniversary, the number of visitors reached around 17.29 million. Over the past 10 years, the cumulative total was about 100 million. Facility operation rate at 80% and year-round operation
By Diplomacy Journal Lee Kap-soo Hanwha Aerospace and WB Group signed a landmark agreement in Poland on September 2 to establish a Polish – Korean joint venture that will localize production of CGR-080 (approximately 80 km) guided missiles for the HOMAR-K multiple launch rocket system used by the Polish Armed Forces. The JV will implement a phased technology transfer program, supported by a certified quality management system and structured workforce training. Initial serial production is expected to ramp up progressively and reach an advanced stage before the end of 2028. The factory is plann