By Diplomacy Journal Lee Jon-young In honor of the 2569th anniversary of the Buddha's birthday in the Buddhist calendar, a blessing ceremony was held at major temples across the country, including Jogyesa Temple in Seoul, on May 5, 2025. At Jogyesa Temple, more than 10,000 Buddhist leaders, including Most Ven. Jinwoo, president of the Jogye Order of Korean Buddhism, as well as government officials, Buddhists, and others gathered to praise the birth of Buddha and reflect on his teachings of compassion. At the Jogyesa Temple, traditional rituals such as establishment of sacred area and six Dharm
By Diplomacy Journal Lee Kap-soo SML Biopharm, a South Korea-based biotech company specializing in mRNA-based therapeutics, announced on May 8 that it has signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with French biotechnology firm Affilogic to collaborate on the development of next-generation targeted drugs using mRNA-LNP (lipid nanoparticle) technology. The agreement aims to integrate Affilogic’s proprietary Nanofitin targeting technology with SML Biopharm’s mRNA-LNP platform. Under the MOU, the two companies will explore opportunities to combine their respective core technologies to develop in
By Diplomacy Journal Lee Kap-soo Thai Ambassador to Korea Tanee Sangrat has joined a 1 million-signature relay campaign calling for the construction of a private runway at Cheongju International Airport. Chungcheongbuk-do province announced on May 7 that Thai Ambassador Tanee Sangrat has become the first foreign ambassador to sign a petition calling for the construction of a dedicated runway for civilian aircraft at Cheongju International Airport. “The lack of flights is the biggest obstacle to expanding people-to-people exchanges between the two countries,” said Thai Ambassador Tanee Sangrat,
By Diplomacy Journal Lee Kap-soo The 'British Culture Village', a complex cultural and educational space with British residential, cultural, and commercial facilities, will be built in Myeongji International New Town in Gangseo-gu, Busan. According to the Busan City on May 7, a four-party business agreement (MOU) was signed with the British Embassy in Korea, the Busan Jinhae Free Economic Zone Authority, the Royal Russell School Busan Campus Establishment Promotion Team, and the British Chamber of Commerce in Korea to create the 'British Cultural Village' in Busan City Hall. The British Cultur
By Diplomacy Journal Lee Kap-soo Cardinal Robert Prevost of the United States has been elected the first US pontiff in the 2,000-year history of the Catholic Church and has taken the name Pope Leo XIV, the Vatican News reported. Pope Leo made his first public appearance to impart a blessing from the roofed area of St Peter’s Basilica. In his first public words, Pope Leo told the faithful “peace be with all of you”. He emphasised the theme of peace throughout the address. He told the crowd, “Evil will not prevail; we are in the hands of God. So without fear, united hand in hand with God and amo
By Diplomacy Journal Lee Kap-soo The following article was contributed by Dr. Mohammed Mustafa Juma Almuntafeky, Head of Mission of the Embassy of the Republic of Iraq in Seoul, to Diplomacy Journal for publication. –Ed. The Iraqi economy has witnessed significant and remarkable improvements over the past few years. According to the latest international economic indicators, Iraq has entered a new phase of recovery and growth, amid significant transformations that reflect a tangible improvement in economic performance and enhance confidence in the national economy among local and international
By Diplomacy Journal Lee Kap-soo About 70 famous musicians from Korea and Myanmar participated, and the event was held successfully for 2 hours with ensemble performances and folk performances. The '2025 Korea-Myanmar Exchange Concert Go With' event was held successfully at the Hansung Baekje Hall in Seoul on April 26, 2025, hosted and organized by the Korea Arts and Culture Exchange Association and sponsored by Pablus Harmonica, etc. Hong Seung-hee, the president of the Korea Arts and Culture Exchange Association who planned and directed this event, said in her opening remarks, “I would like
By Diplomacy Journal Lee Kap-soo SK bioscience has been selected for the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency (KDCA)’s Priority Infectious Disease Pandemic Preparedness Rapid R&D Support Program, the company said on May 6. This government-led initiative aims to develop vaccines against avian influenza – identified as a high-risk candidate for the next pandemic. SK bioscience was chosen for its proven technological capabilities as the only domestic company to have commercialized cell-culture-based vaccines for both influenza and COVID-19. Under the program, SK bioscience and KDCA wil
By Diplomacy Journal Kayla Lee The Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism (MCST) will hold the 2025 My K-Festa from June 19-22 at Olympic Park in Seoul's Songpa-gu District, along with the Korean Foundation for International Cultural Exchange (KOFICE), the ministry said on May 1. The event for global fans of Hallyu (Korean Wave) will feature various contents of Hallyu including K-pop at a single venue to allow fans from around the world to experience the latest in the Korean Wave and expand Hallyu's influence in daily life. A K-pop concert, one of the highlights of the festival, is slated for
By Diplomacy Journal Lee Kap-soo The Korean-German Chamber of Commerce and Industry (KGCCI, President & CEO Marie Antonia von Schönburg) signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with NVISIONS (operating Dialogue in the Dark) in Seoul, South Korea on May 7, to strengthen their partnership and advance shared values of inclusion, diversity, and responsible business practices. This partnership marks a significant milestone in KGCCI’s efforts to foster diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) through impactful corporate social responsibility (CSR) programs. Originating in Germany, Dialogue in t
By Diplomacy Journal Kayla Lee An international conference co-hosted by Korean Association for Public Value (KAPV) and the Embassy of Morocco in Korea was held at the Museum Auditorium on the main campus of Gyeongsang National University on May 8. The conference was held under the theme of 'Strengthening Multi-dimensional Cooperation between Korea and Morocco' to explore practical ways of cooperation between the two countries. Founded in 2020, the KAPV aims to conduct interdisciplinary research on public value and has been publishing the Journal of Public Value twice a year. In particular, it
By Diplomacy Journal Lee Kap-soo Yoon Young-mi, chairman of Korea Importers Association (KOIMA), held a meeting with Ecuadorian Ambassador to Korea Patricio Esteban Troya Suarez at the KOIMA office in Seoul on May 8 to discuss ways to expand bilateral trade. “Ecuador is a country that is competitive in various industries such as shrimp, bananas, cacao, coffee, and flowers,” said Ambassador Suarez, ”and we are about to sign the Strategic Economic Cooperation Agreement (SECA) to expand trade with Korea.” He added that he hopes the agreement will further strengthen the partnership as a hub for ex