By Diplomacy Journal Lee Joon-seok | Good Call & AT LAB, led by Chairman Lee Won-jung, are cultivating and processing high quality agricultural products (functional agricultural products) with their own patents and technologies, cultivating and distributing functional agricultural products with local governments and local agricultural cooperatives in various parts of Korea, and conducting safety and efficacy evaluation projects (animal experiments) with the Korea Institute of Oriental Medicine and efficacy evaluation projects (clinical trials) with Wonkwang Oriental University Hospital. In
Diplomacy Journal Jon Lee | President Yoon Suk-yeol held bilateral meetings with President William Samoei Ruto of Kenya, President Andry Nirina Rajoelina of Madagascar, President Joseph Nyumah Boakai of Liberia, and President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo of Ghana, who are attending the Korea-Africa Summit on June 4. (June 4-5). During the morning session of the Korea-Africa Summit, President Yoon said that he could feel the will and sincerity of the leaders to promote Korea-Africa cooperation by listening to their remarks, and he looks forward to realizing the vast potential of each other as th
By Diplomacy Journal Kayla Lee The “Korea-Africa Key Minerals Dialogue” will be launched to strengthen global supply chain cooperation between Korea and Africa. In addition, they will jointly endeavor to ensure the stable supply of key minerals and promote technical cooperation related to key minerals based on mutual agreement. President Yoon Suk-yeol signed the joint declaration with the heads of state or government of 48 African countries at the Korea-Africa Summit held in Gyeonggi Province on June 4. Africa holds 30 percent of the world's mineral resources, including key raw materials for t
By Diplomacy Journal Lee Kap-soo “Any Korean company, which might be interested to invest in tourism and hospitality industry in Croatia, can find a very attractive business opportunity,” said Ambassador H.E. Damir Kušen of Croatia in Seoul. Delivering welcome speech at the Croatian-Korean Business Forum held at Coryo Daeyeongak Tower in Seoul, Amb. Kusen said, “Let me remind you that Croatia has more than 1700 kilometers of the coastline with a lot of opportunities for building tourism infrastructure and facilities. With an introduction of the new direct flights between Seoul and Zagreb, the
Diplomacy Journal Jon Lee | President Yoon Suk-yeol held his first bilateral meeting with Sierra Leone on the sidelines of the Korea-Africa Summit on May 31. During the meeting with Sierra Leonean President Julius Maada Bio at the Yongsan Presidential Office, President Yoon signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) on Trade and Investment Promotion Framework (TIPF) to expand bilateral trade and investment cooperation. In addition, the 'K-Rice Belt' project, which is underway since 2023, will contribute to improving agricultural productivity in Sierra Leone, as well as education and health sec
By Diplomacy Journal Lee Jon-young President Yoon Suk-yeol on June 3 held a series of bilateral meetings with African leaders who are in South Korea for the Korea-Africa Summit to discuss issues of mutual interest. From morning to afternoon, Yoon held bilateral talks with the leaders of 10 African countries, according to the presidential office. In the morning, Yoon held separate meetings with six African leaders: Lesotho Prime Minister Ntsokoane Samuel Matekane, Côte d'Ivoire President Alassane Ouattara, Mauritius President Prithvirajsing Roopun, Zimbabwe President Emmerson Dambudzo Mnangagwa
By Diplomacy Journal Lee Jon-young President Yoon Suk-yeol and First Lady Kim Keon-hee hosted an official welcome dinner on June 3 at the Shilla Hotel in Seoul for more than 60 heads of state and delegates from 48 African countries, who are visiting Korea for the Korea-Africa Summit (June 4-5). Prior to the dinner, the President and Mrs. Yoon received the African heads of state and government, exchanged pleasantries and took commemorative photos. The President couple then entered the dinner hall together amid the applause of the guests. “Korea's economic growth is the result of a trinity of ef
Diplomacy Journal Jon Lee | President Yoon Suk-yeol held a summit with Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed Ali, who is visiting South Korea for the Korea-Africa Summit, on June 2 and agreed on the need to thoroughly implement sanctions against North Korea to block its nuclear and missile development in violation of UN Security Council resolutions. According the presidential office, the two leaders discussed the issue during a dinner meeting at the Yongsan presidential office. The two leaders plan to cooperate closely on the international diplomatic stage, including Ethiopia's support for South
By Diplomacy Journal Lee Jon-young President Yoon Suk-yeol met with Tanzanian President Samia Suluhu Hassan on June 2 to announce the start of negotiations on the Economic Partnership Agreement (EPA) and discuss strengthening cooperation on key mineral resources. President Yoon held a luncheon meeting with President Hassan, who is visiting South Korea for the Korea-Africa Summit, at the Yongsan Presidential Office later in the day. It has been 18 years since former President Jakaya Kikwete visited Korea in 2006. “Today, I am pleased to announce the start of negotiations on an Economic Partners
By Diplomacy Journal Lee Kap-soo SK Group Chairman Chey Tae-won was ordered by an appellate court on May 30 to pay his estranged wife Roh So-young, the former late President Roh Tae-woo's only daughter, 1.38 trillion won (US$1 bil.) in property division and 2 billion won in alimony as part of his divorce from Roh. As for Choi's shares in SK Inc., a group holding company, which were not recognized as property to be divided in the first trial, the second trial ruled that the shares were subject to property division, saying that Roh had a contributory share. As the second trial court in the divor
By Diplomacy Journal Lee Jon-young President Yoon Suk-yeol received the new commander of U.S. Indo-Pacific Command, Admiral Samuel Paparo, on May 30and congratulated him on his assumption of command and asked him to make efforts to strengthen the alliance's defense posture. The President praised Admiral Paparo's contributions to the defense of the Korean Peninsula over the past three years as commander of the U.S. Pacific Fleet, and expressed his excitement about his familiarity with the security situation on the Korean Peninsula. The President called for the U.S. Indo-Pacific Command's active
Diplomacy Journal Jon Lee | The UN Refugee Agency (UNHCR) is calling on partners to assist them in supporting about 185,000 Sudanese who have journeyed into Chad and are trying to escape dangerous borders, specifically in Adre border town,the UN News reported. Laura Lo Castro, UNHCR's representative in Chad, said that expected rains have started in Adre, leaving tens of thousands of Sudanese refugees without shelter suitable for protection. The rains also impede humanitarian access due to catastrophic flooding, she added. “It's paramount that we scale up the response now and immediately reloca
Diplomacy Journal Jon Lee | North Korea fired a large number of short-range ballistic missiles (SRBMs) into the East Sea on May 30, it was confirmed. The Joint Chiefs of Staff said, “At around 6:14 a.m. on May 30, we captured about 10 suspected short-range ballistic missiles (SRBMs) fired into the East Sea from the Sunan area of Pyongyang, North Korea.” North Korea has a history of ballistic missile provocations, including test launches, but this is unusual. The missiles traveled more than 350 kilometers before landing in the East Sea. Based on the distance, it is believed to be an intermediat
By Diplomacy Journal Lee Kap-soo “Georgia aims to conclude two important economic framework agreements with Korea this year,” said H.E. Tarash Papaskua, Ambassador of Georgia to the ROK on May 27,2024. At a reception to celebrate the Independence Day of Georgia held at Grand Hyatt Seoul on May 27, Amb. Papaskua said, “I am delighted to highlight the progress we have achieved together with our Korean partners in our talks on two important economic framework agreements, the Georgia-Korea Economic Partnership Agreement and the Agreement on Promotion and Protection of Investments, which we aim to
By Diplomacy Journal Lee Kap-soo Minister of Foreign Affairs Cho Tae-yul hosted a luncheon to welcome visiting ASEAN Secretary General Kao Kim Hourn on May 28 and exchanged views on: the 35th anniversary of ASEAN-ROK dialogue relations this year; the establishment of the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership (CSP); the implementation of the Korea-ASEAN Solidarity Initiative (KASI); and ways to advance ASEAN-ROK practical cooperation. Cho noted that ASEAN and South Korea have been inseparable partners since the establishment of dialogue relations in 1989, and stressed that South Korea will contin