By Diplomacy Journal Kayla Lee Minister of Foreign Affairs Cho Tae-yul met with the new Commander of the U.S. Forces Korea (USFK), General Xavier Brunson, at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA), on Jan. 22 and exchanged views on the U.S.-ROK alliance and North Korea issues. Minister Cho congratulated Commander Brunson on his appointment and urged him to contribute to maintaining and strengthening the ironclad U.S.-ROK alliance and a robust joint defense posture as the commander of the U.S. Forces Korea. He also called on the commander to work closely with the U.S. and South Korea to ensure t
By Diplomacy Journal Kayla Lee Seoul Mayor Oh Se-hoon met with Japanese Ambassador to Korea Koichi Mizushima on Jan. 20 in his office at Seoul City Hall to exchange New Year's greetings and discuss mutual cooperation between the two countries on the occasion of the 60th anniversary of the normalization of diplomatic relations between Korea and Japan. Ambassador Koichi Mizushima, who served as the Consul General of the Embassy of Japan in Korea from 2017 to 19 and was appointed as the Ambassador of Japan to Korea in May 24, met with Mayor Oh once in August last year. “If Korea and Japan, which
By Diplomacy Journal Kayla Lee Jeju Governor Oh Young-hoon met with new Chinese Ambassador Dai Bing at the Embassy of the People's Republic of China in Seoul on Jan. 15 to discuss ways to strengthen multifaceted exchange and cooperation between Jeju and Chinese local governments. This was Ambassador Dai Bing's first official meeting with the head of a metropolitan organization after his appointment, and the meeting lasted for about an hour. “Jeju is preparing to declare carbon neutrality in 2035 and transition to a hydrogen-based society,” Oh said during the meeting, adding, ”I hope that Jeju
By Diplomacy Journal Kayla Lee Kim Ki-Chong is an artist who has gained attention in the Korean art world for his contemporary interpretation of the moon jar, a symbol of traditional Korean ceramics. His works are considered to have a mesmerizing power to stimulate the inner feelings and emotions of Koreans beyond the mere shape of the pottery. As a specially selected artist for the National Exhibition, his skills are widely recognized. Kim has developed his own unique style of painting that harmoniously fuses tradition and modernity, using a variety of materials and techniques to maximize the
By Diplomacy Journal Kayla Lee Nine foreign promoters of Korean culture on Jan. 7 visited Muju-gun County, Jeollabuk-do Province, to get a taste of the country's winter, the Korea.net reported. Korea.net Honorary Reporters and K-influencers shared their experience in a snowy landscape despite the cold temperature of below 0 degrees Celsius. The nine were divided into two teams, with one group going to Muju Deogyugsan Resort to hit the slopes. Though it was a weekday, the venue was filled with the visitors' energy. Those trying skiing for the first time quickly adapted thanks to expert guidance
By Diplomacy Journal Kayla Lee Joseph Yun, Chargé d’Affaires, ad interim, at the U.S. Embassy in Korea visited the Ministry of Foreign Affairs on Jan. 14 and met with Minister of Foreign Affairs Cho Tae-yul and First Secretary Kim Hong-gyun. Minister Cho received Acting Ambassador Yun at the Foreign Ministry building in Jongno-gu, Seoul, and asked him to work hard to advance the Korea-U.S. alliance, the ministry said. Vice Minister Kim also met with Ambassador Yun and exchanged views on topics including bilateral relations and North Korea. “I welcome the appointment of Acting Ambassador Yun, a
By Diplomacy Journal Kayla Lee National Assembly Speaker Woo Won-sik met with Indian Ambassador to Korea Amit Kumar on Jan. 9 and asked him to “spread the word of Korea's stability to the Indian people, businessmen and diplomats who are investing in Korea.” “I am aware of the international community's concern about the emergency martial law situation, but our people have a strong DNA of overcoming crises, including colonization, war, division, and dictatorship,” Woo said when he met with Kumar at the National Assembly earlier in the day. “Together in the G20, Korea and India are very important
By Diplomacy Journal Kayla Lee Cuba has appointed its first ambassador to South Korea, 11 months after the two countries established diplomatic relations. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA) said on July 7 that a ceremony was held at the Government Complex in Seoul, attended by Acting President Choi Sang-mok, to enact the credentials of ambassadors to South Korea, including the Cuban ambassador. Acting President Choi Sang-mok accepted Letters of Credence from nine Ambassadors-Designate to the Republic of Korea at the Government Complex Seoul on Jan. 7, 2025. The nine Ambassadors-Designate ar
By Diplomacy Journal Kayla Lee The 2025 “Diplomacy and Reunification K-Folk Painting Exhibition” will be held from March 12 to 18 at the Korea Museum of Art, Insa-dong in Seoul. The K-Folk Painting Exhibition is co-hosted by the Diplomacy Journal and the K-Folk Painting Research Center, co-organized by the Korea Masters Association and the monthly K-Folk Painting, and sponsored by the Damwha Cultural Foundation. The event is designed to pray for peace and reunification of the Korean Peninsula through art and to recognize the status of Korean culture on the global diplomatic stage. In particula
By Diplomacy Journal Kayla Lee Former State Department Special Representative for North Korea Affairs Joseph Yun (71) will serve as interim chargé d'affaires to replace outgoing U.S. Ambassador Philip Goldberg at the end of his term, the Korean vernacular daily Chosun Ilbo reported on Jan. 6. The U.S. government is said to have decided that it is urgent to maintain a stable high-level communication channel between the U.S. and South Korea as the uncertainty of the impeachment situation grows after the Dec. 3 emergency martial law. According to the report, President Biden has decided to send Yu
By Diplomacy Journal Kayla Lee Amid ongoing political turmoil in South Korea, including rallies for and against the impeachment of President Yoon Suk-yeol following the imposition of martial law on Dec. 3, the Chinese Embassy in Seoul has issued a warning to its nationals in South Korea not to participate in political events. The South China Morning Post (SCMP) reported on Jan. 5 that the embassy had issued a notice to Chinese nationals in South Korea the day before, asking them to avoid political activities related to the rallies. According to the report, the Chinese Embassy in South Korea po
By Diplomacy Journal Kayla Lee Acting Defense Minister Kim Sun-ho met with U.S. Ambassador to the Republic of Korea Philip Goldberg on Jan. 2, 2025. Goldberg is scheduled to leave his post on Jan. 20 to coincide with the inauguration of the second administration of U.S. President Donald Trump. Kim met with Goldberg at the Ministry of National Defense in Yongsan-gu, Seoul, the ministry said. Goldberg was appointed U.S. ambassador to South Korea in July 2022. Kim thanked Goldberg for his contributions to the development of the U.S.-ROK alliance, including the Washington Declaration in April 2023
By Diplomacy Journal Kayla Lee “Welcome to the New Year (Byeoksachobok) Sehwa Exhibition,” a large-scale exhibition of folk paintings with traditional Korean values of bringing good luck and wishing for the beginning of the year and warding off bad luck, gets underway through Jan. 6, at the Korea Museum of Art, Insa-dong, Seoul. The exhibition showcases the works of more than 100 folk painters from across the country and seven invited artists from the Korea Masters Association, and is attracting great response and interest. The event was co-hosted by the monthly K Folk Paintings and the Diplom
By Diplomacy Journal Kayla Lee Vice Minister of Foreign Affairs Kim Hong Kyun held a meeting with Vice Minister for Foreign Affairs of Japan Okano Masataka in Tokyo, Japan, on December 26, and exchanged views on bilateral relations, Korea-Japan and Korea-U.S.-Japan cooperation, and North Korea issues. Vice Minister Kim explained that the Korean government is stably managing overall state affairs under the acting authority system and all relevant future processes will be carried out democratically based on the Constitution and laws. Given the importance of bilateral relations, the two Vice Mini
By Diplomacy Journal Kayla Lee Ambassador of the Republic of Korea to Bahrain Koo Heon Sang and Minister of Finance and National Economy Shaikh Salman bin Khalifa Al Khalifa of the Kingdom of Bahrain signed the Agreement between the Government of the Republic of Korea and the Government of the Kingdom of Bahrain for the Promotion and Protection of Investments on December 26, 2024, in Manama, Bahrain. Korean companies have entered Bahrain, especially in the areas of energy, petrochemistry and infrastructure. Bahrain has an attractive business environment with a strategic role as a gateway to th