Choe Choong-dae | My particular interest in Thailand stems from fond memories of two remarkable Thai figures: Major General Chote Klongvicha, former Thai Ambassador to Korea, and Colonel Akaphol Somloop, a former Thai Defense Attaché at the Royal Thai Embassy in Seoul who later became Chief of Staff of the Royal Thai Armed Forces. Both men were stationed in Korea from the late 1960s to the early 1970s and were close friends of my family. I was just entering university when we met. Through their lives and service, I came to understand diplomacy not merely as statecraft, but as a profoundly huma
Diplomacy Journal shJung | The Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy will implement an industrial infrastructure development project worth KRW 268.5 billion this year to support the development and rapid commercialization of ultra-gap technologies through facility and equipment construction projects. This is the largest-ever initiative, and it aims to support the technological independence and competitiveness of our industries amidst the rapidly evolving global technological competition. The Industrial Equipment Installation Project supports equipment needed for testing, evaluation, certifica
By Diplomacy Journal Kayla Lee | The Korean-Vietnamese Business Association (BAVIK) held its New Year event on January 25, bringing together major business leaders from both Korea and Vietnam. The event was organized by Jeon Yong-heon, Chairman of the Korea-Vietnam Forum, and was particularly notable for the large attendance of young Vietnamese entrepreneurs, creating a warm and friendly atmosphere. Vietnamese attendees included Vietnam’s Ambassador to Korea Vu Ho, BAVIK Chairman Dao Tuan Hong, Vice Chairman Nguyen Viet Phong, and Vice President Won Jeong-min. Tran Khanh Van, Vietnam News Agen
Samsung Electronics will distribute 1.3 trillion won in special dividends based on its fourth-quarter 2025 results. The move further strengthens the company's shareholder return policy in conjunction with the implementation of the separate taxation system for dividend income, and satisfies the government's requirements for listed companies that are designated "high-dividend" providers. Samsung Electronics announced through a disclosure on January 29 that "in accordance with our 2024–2026 shareholder return policy, we have decided on a Q4 special dividend in addition to our regular quarterly di
Lee Jon-young | In 1992, a clear milestone was established when World Buddhist Peace Day was officially established and proclaimed. At the center of this historic declaration stood His Holiness Il-bung Seo Kyung-bo (一鵬 徐京保), First World Supreme Buddhist Leader. In the early 1990s, Cold War tensions had not fully dissipated; the world remained shaken by war, division, and inter-religious conflict. Supreme Leader Il-bung Seo Kyung-bo was keenly aware of the problems facing this era. He determined that Buddhism must no longer remain confined within the walls of temples and practice. His firm conv
Diplomacy Journal David Kendall 기자 | On January 19, Korea’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs released the following statement: “The government of the Republic of Korea welcomes the United States’ recent announcement of the launch of Phase Two of the Gaza Peace Plan as well as the formation of the Board of Peace and the National Committee for the Administration of Gaza (NCAG). The ROK government appreciates President Trump’s initiative in advancing peace in Gaza, along with the efforts of mediators including Qatar, Egypt, and Türkiye. “The government hopes that the parties thoroughly and swiftly imp
By Diplomacy Journal Kayla Lee | On the occasion of the 77th Republic Day of India, Ambassador Gourangalal DAS hosted a reception on January 26, 2026, at Sebitseom, the cluster of small man-made islands beside Seoul’s Banpo-daegyo Bridge. The event was graced by the guest of honor, H.E. Deputy Minister for Public Diplomacy, Mr. Lim Sang-woo, from Korea’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs. The celebration drew approximately 500 distinguished guests, including members of the National Assembly, various diplomatic missions, business leaders, and academia. Cultural figures and representatives from the In
In a new step to strengthen its presence in global tourism markets, the Sultanate of Oman, represented by the Ministry of Heritage and Tourism and in cooperation with the Embassy of the Sultanate of Oman in Seoul, hosted representatives from leading Korean travel agencies as part of an exceptional familiarization tour held from 15 to 22 January 2026. The tour provided representatives of Hana Tour, Mode Tour, Very Good Tour, MyRealTrip, and Yanatrip with a unique opportunity to discover the diversity of Oman’s tourism product, which combines cultural authenticity, stunning natural landscapes, a
Nigora Sultanova | In recent years, the deepening cooperation between Uzbekistan and Pakistan has emerged as a significant new strategic direction across Eurasia. Two countries standing at the historic crossroads of ancient trade routes are now consistently building a modern “architecture of connectivity” that permeates all key areas, including the economy, culture, education, and technology. Their shared centuries-old historical roots, dating back to the era of the Great Silk Road, are being transformed into concrete projects and initiatives capable of strengthening economic resilience, ensur
Diplomacy Journal Lee Jon-young | When someone wakes up at age 103, the day is normally a quiet one. A quiet day can still be productive; one such centenarian routinely reaches for a writing brush. Born in 1923, Master Nam Sang-jun has lived as a hyeokpil (leather brush) calligrapher for over 60 years since studying under Master Dong Ji-seong in 1961. The hyeokpil held in his fingertips is not limited to Hangeul. It embraces Chinese characters and even extends to the Roman letters of English. He teaches his disciples not just how to wield a leather brush when writing art, but also how to make
The U.S. Embassy in Korea commemorated the 250th anniversary of American independence during an event designed to reflect on the history and values of the ROK-U.S. alliance and present a vision for the future of bilateral relations through cultural exchange. While the focus was on art, the importance that diplomacy, security, and trade play in maintaining the strategic ROK-U.S. alliance was also on display. The U.S. Embassy in Korea hosted the "Freedom of Expression: Freedom250 Korea-U.S. Creative Dialogue" event in Seoul on January 28 at the Seongbuk-dong residence of U.S. Chargé d'Affaires J
Diplomacy Journal shJung 기자 | The government is actively pursuing the supply of 18,000 large-scale public housing units in the Gangnam area. On February 2nd, the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport (Minister Kim Yoon-duk) designated and announced the Seoripul 1st Public Housing District (2,018,074㎡) in Wonji-dong, Sinwon-dong, Yeomgok-dong, and Naegok-dong in Seocho-gu, Seoul. The government announced plans to promote a plan to provide affordable public housing, focusing on providing affordable housing for future generations, including young adults and newlyweds, through a housing l
Diplomacy Journal David Kendall | The Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries (MOF) announced on January 29 that Korea’s 2025 seafood exports reached USD 3.33 billion (preliminary), representing a 9.7% increase from the previous year and the highest level on record. The top seafood export was once again gim (dried laver). According to the MOF, USD 1.13 billion worth of gim products was exported last year, a 13.7% increase year-on-year and a new all-time high. The Ministry added, “Gim has continuously strengthened its international competitiveness by developing a range of products tailored to overseas
Diplomacy Journal shJung | The "Lee Kun-hee (KH) Collection," born from a donation by the late Samsung Chairman Lee Kun-hee, has successfully completed its first overseas tour, impressing the world with the prestige of Korean art and culture. Samsung held a gala dinner on the 28th (local time) at the Smithsonian's National Museum of Arts and Industry in Washington, D.C., ahead of the exhibition's closing. "Collecting, Cherishing, and Sharing Treasures of Korea," currently on display at the Smithsonian's National Museum of Asian Art (NMAA), is co-hosted by the National Museum of Korea and the N
The Croatioan National Tourist Board (CNTB) announced on January 31 that T'way Air, a South Korea-based low-cost carrier, will resume direct flights between Incheon and Zagreb from July 2 through October 24, 2026. The flights will operate three times weekly (Tuesday, Thursday, Saturday). The 11-hour flight, priced around KRW 500,000 one-way, makes Croatia more accessible than ever to Korean travelers. "With both direct flights and diverse connecting routes through cities like Istanbul, Vienna, and Warsaw, access to Croatia has never been better," said Marko Jurčić, Korea Director of the CNTB.