By Diplomacy Journal Kayla Lee Minister of Foreign Affairs Cho Hyun, together with Joseph Yun, Chargé d’Affaires at the U.S. Embassy, Kim Seok-ki, Chair of the National Assembly’s Foreign Affairs and Unification Committee, Kim Gi-hyeon, Chair of the Special Committee for Supporting the APEC Economic Leaders’ Meeting, and National Assembly members Kim Geon, Kim Sang-wook, and Kim Tae-Seon, visited HD Hyundai’s Ulsan Shipyard to inspect shipbuilding operations and major facilities on August 13. This visit was organized amid continued emphasis on strengthening bilateral cooperation in the shipbui
By Diplomacy Journal Kayla Lee The Chungnam Culture and Tourism Foundation (CCTF) will partner with the Slovak Embassy in Korea to expand cultural and tourism exchanges. The foundation held a "Cultural and Tourism Exchange and Cooperation Declaration Ceremony" with Slovak Ambassador to Korea Marek Repovsk at the Chungnam Culture and Arts Seoul Exhibition Center (CN Gallery) in Jongno-gu, Seoul on Aug. 7. This declaration, based on the strategic partnership and mutual respect between the two countries, aims to ▲encourage cultural and artistic exchanges, ▲support the development of convergent cu
By Diplomacy Journal Kayla Lee Minister of Science and ICT Bae Kyung-hoon met with Michael Kratsios, head of the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy (OSTP), to discuss cooperation in artificial intelligence (AI) technology and infrastructure on Aug. 5. The Ministry of Science and ICT (MSIT) announced that Minister Bae and Kratsios held a bilateral meeting on the sidelines of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Digital and AI Ministerial Meeting. During the meeting, the two sides shared their respective AI policies. The US presented its AI Action Plan, while South Korea
By Diplomacy Journal Kayla Lee Minister of National Defense Ahn Gyu-back met with Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of National Defense Władysław Marcin Kosiniak-Kamysz of Poland in Gliwice, Poland, on Aug. 1 (local time), and discussed in-depth ways to strengthen defense and arms industry cooperation between the two countries. Minister Ahn stated, "I find it meaningful to visit Poland as my first overseas visit since taking office. Poland is a strategic partner of the Republic of Korea, and I highly value the ongoing cooperation between our two countries in various industries, including the
By Diplomacy Journal Kayla Lee The 28th World Peace Art Exhibition Awards Ceremony was held at the Korea Gallery in Insa-dong, Seoul on August 6, 2025. About 620 artists from 21 countries participated in the event, submitting approximately 1,200 works. About 800 of these works were exhibited. The ceremony concluded successfully with approximately 200 distinguished guests in attendance. Attendees at the ceremony included Nurgali Arystanov, Ambassador of the Embassy of Kazakhstan, Fazliddin Arziev, Minister Counsellor of the Embassy of Uzbekistan, Consul Eugene Redko of the Embassy of Belarus, a
By Diplomacy Journal Kayla Lee Chairwoman Youn Young-mi of the Korea Importers Association (KOIMA) met with Ambassador Nurgali Arystanov of Kazakhstan to Korea on July 31 and discussed ways to expand trade and practical cooperation between the two countries. Ambassador Arystanov expressed his commitment to a stable supply of Kazakhstan-produced wheat to the Korean market as a global wheat producer. He also expressed his hopes for the supply of various products, including agricultural and livestock products, mineral resources, meat, and honey, to the Korean market. Chairwoman Youn stated that t
By Diplomacy Journal Kayla Lee Minister of Foreign Affairs Cho Hyun held a telephone conversation with Australian Minister for Foreign Affairs Penny Wong on August 4, 2025. This was their first phone call since Minister Cho’s inauguration and served as a courtesy exchange. In the phone call, they exchanged views on global affairs and ways to strengthen mutually-beneficial cooperation between the two countries. Minister Cho noted that the new Korean administration and the second-term cabinet of Prime Minister Anthony Albanese were both launched around the same time earlier this year. He reitera
By Diplomacy Journal Kayla Lee While visiting Washington, D.C., to attend the ROK-U.S. Foreign Ministers' Meeting, Minister Cho Hyun met with Senators Bill Hagerty (R-TN) and Pete Ricketts (R-NE), Chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee's Subcommittee on East Asia and the Pacific on Aug. 1, 2025 (local time). Later that afternoon, he spoke by phone with Senator Dan Sullivan (R-Alaska). The two sides exchanged views on the ROK-U.S. alliance, ROK-U.S.-Japan cooperation, North Korea's nuclear and North Korean issues, and regional and global situations. Minister Cho emphasized the impor
By Diplomacy Journal Kayla Lee The Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism of Korea, in cooperation with the Korea Tourism Organization, hosted the 65th APEC Tourism Working Group (TWG) Meeting from July 28 to 31 at Songdo Convensia, Incheon, as part of the Third APEC Senior Officials’ Meeting (SOM3) and Related Meetings. Established in 1991, the APEC TWG has served as a key platform for tourism officials from 21 member economies to share insights, align policies, and foster growth through travel and tourism cooperation. The 65th TWG Meeting featured the adoption of the APEC Tourism Strategic
By Diplomacy Journal Kayla Lee The Korea-Bahrain Investment Promotion and Protection Agreement (hereinafter the "Agreement") has entered into force on July 31, 2025, following the completion of the necessary domestic procedures by both countries after its signing on December 26, 2024, in Manama, Bahrain, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs said. On March 21, 2025, Korea notified Bahrain of the completion of its domestic procedures, after obtaining the National Assembly’s consent to ratification on March 13, 2025. Bahrain notified Korea on July 1, 2025, that it had completed its own domestic proced
By Diplomacy Journal Kayla Lee The University of Seoul hosted a welcoming ceremony at its headquarters on July 30 for Ambassador Andrew Bwezani Banda, the Zambian Ambassador to Korea. The event was designed to explore educational and academic cooperation between the University of Seoul and the Republic of Zambia, and to discuss ways to expand the recruitment of Zambian students. The event was attended by Ambassador Andrew Bwezani Banda, the First Secretary, and the Second Secretary. From the University of Seoul, Vice President for External Cooperation Park Hoon and Dean of the Office of Intern
By Diplomacy Journal Kayla Lee Vice Minister of Foreign Affairs Kim Jina held a meeting with Michael John Rigas, U.S. Deputy Secretary of State for Management and Resources, at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Seoul on July 25. During their meeting, the two sides exchanged views on a wide range of issues related to the ROK-U.S. relationship. Vice Minister Kim expressed her hope to further advance the ROK-U.S. alliance not only in the area of security but also across various fields such as the economy and cutting-edge technologies, through active exchanges at all levels between the two countr
By Diplomacy Journal Kayla Lee Everyone now knows that we should exercise for our health. In fact, research results have been published that scientifically prove that exercise prevents diseases and even reduces medical expenses. The Korea Sports Promotion Foundation (KSPO) National Fitness Award is the main character. It has once again proven that it is not a simple physical strength measurement service but a core public policy for national health and reduction of medical expenses. Regarding this, KSPO Chairman Ha Hyung-joo emphasized, “National Fitness Award is a health service in everyday li
By Diplomacy Journal Kayla Lee Most Ven. Jinwoo, president of the Jogye Order of Korean Buddhism, received a courtesy call from Rep. Kim Kyo-heung of the Democratic Party (Incheon Seo-gu Gap), chairman of the National Assembly's Culture, Sports, and Tourism Committee, at the Jogyesa Temple Stay Promotion Center in Seoul on July 25, and requested interest and support for the designation of traditional temples as preservation sites and its popularization project. Jogye Order Planning Director Ven. Beopoh, Library Director Ven. Ilgam, National Assembly Culture, Sports and Tourism Committee Senior
By Diplomacy Journal Kayla Lee The Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism, in cooperation with the King Sejong Institute Foundation, hosted the World Korean Educator Conference 2025 from July 21 to July 24 at the Hotel Shilla Seoul. Marking its 17th year, the World Korean Educator Conference is a training program designed to strengthen the expertise of Korean language educators by inviting King Sejong Institute instructors from both Korea and overseas, and providing them with the latest teaching methods and resources. This year’s event brought together more than 300 Korean language educators,