By Diplomacy Journal Lee Kap-soo Hyundai Motor Company and Kia Corporation unveiled the ‘Active Air Skirt’ (AAS) technology on Jan. 23 that minimizes the aerodynamic resistance generated during high-speed driving, effectively improving the driving range and driving stability of electric vehicles (EVs). AAS is a technology that controls the flow of air entering through the lower part of the bumper and effectively controls the turbulence generated around the vehicle wheels by operating variably according to the vehicle speed during high-speed driving. In the EV era, competition to secure a bette
By Diplomacy Journal Lee Kap-soo The UN expert working to eliminate rape during wartime has been invited to Israel by the Government to gather information on sexual violence reportedly committed in the context of the 7 October Hamas attacks and their aftermath, the UN News reported on Jan. 25. Pramila Patten, Special Representative of the UN Secretary-General on Sexual Violence in Conflict, will also visit the occupied West Bank, where she will meet with the Palestinian Authority, civil society organizations, recently released detainees and other relevant actors. The visit is set to start on J
By Diplomacy Journal Kayla Lee At one time, Chung Hee-sung ran a small academy for not only seal work but also gilded craft work, and now he runs a small "workshop" in the basement of the Officer's Building on Samildae-ro in Jung-gu, Seoul. Since the culture of seal has been slowly disappearing for a long time, his work has been cut off, and these days he spends his time making models of palaces and other tiled houses, and his workshop is filled with model castles, small palaces, and other figures. People often talk about "seal carvers" or "seal sellers" as people who carve "names" on finger-s
By Diplomacy Journal Lee Kap-soo Gyeonggi-do Governor Kim Dong-yeon, who is visiting Switzerland and France to strengthen international exchanges and attract investment, met with Valérie Pécresse, governor of Île-de-France, to discuss cooperation. Governor Kim Dong-yeon and Governor Valérie Pécresse had breakfast at the Ile-de-France Provincial Office on Jan. 19 and discussed concrete action plans on startups, climate change, high-tech industries, and youth exchange. "I think there is a lot of potential for cooperation between the two regions in terms of startups, high-tech industries, climate
By Diplomacy Journal Lee Jon-young President Yoon Suk-yeol visited Uijeongbu First Market, Gyeonggi Province's representative traditional market, on Jan. 25 to encourage merchants who are facing difficulties due to the recent recession and winter cold snap, and to listen to their stories. Upon his arrival, a large number of citizens and merchants welcomed President Yoon with chants of "Yoon Suk-yeol cheers," to which the President responded with a handshake and New Year's greetings. Along with the president and Minister of SMEs and Startups Oh Young-joo, the president walked around various sto
By Diplomacy Journal Lee Kap-soo The following is the remarks of UN Secretary-General António Guterres at the meeting of the Global Counter-Terrorism Compact on Jan. 24, 2024. –Ed. Excellencies, Dear Colleagues, Dear Friends, Thank you for coming together here at the United Nations Headquarters. Now this building, and our organization, represent humanity’s highest ideals. Peace, dialogue, development, human rights and collaboration. Terrorism represents the polar opposite of these ideals. No one is immune from this global threat. Today’s meeting focuses on a clear and present danger to a conti
By Diplomacy Journal Lee Kap-soo Kim Kyong-hae, CEO of Communications Korea (CK), won the Silver Award in the PR LEGEND category at the INDIE AWARDS 2023, the world's most prestigious PR awards, held on January 24 in London, UK, the PR company said on Jan. 25. The awards are given to legendary figures in the global PR industry. “Thenetworkone,” a global independent network connecting more than 1,600 companies in the PR, advertising and media sectors in 119 countries around the world, is based in London, UK, and annually holds the INDIE AWARDS ceremony to recognize outstanding individuals in th
By Diplomacy Journal Kayla Lee Foreign Minister Cho Tae-yul met with Chey Tae-won, chairman of the Korea Chamber of Commerce and Industry (KCCI) and chairman of SK Group, at the KCCI building in Jung-gu, Seoul, on Jan. 24 to discuss current issues in the business community and cooperation in the fields of foreign affairs and security. Cho, who took office on Jan. 12, has been visiting economic organizations and exchanging views with their leaders on ways to strengthen public-private partnerships. On Jan. 22, he met with Ryu Jin, chairman of the Federation of Korean Industries (FKI). Among thos
By Diplomacy Journal Lee Kap-soo The Seoul Gyeonggi North Construction Branch of the Korea Construction Workers' Union (KCWU) held a press conference on Jan. 23 in front of the GS headquarters in Jongno, Seoul to condemn GS E&C (Engineering & Construction)'s shoddy and poor construction. At the same time, at the Dignity Xi apartment site in Yangpyeong-dong, Yeongdeungpo-gu, Seoul, they condemned GS E&C for conducting concrete pouring work in the middle of a snowstorm, saying that it was doing so to save costs, even though there was a risk that it would lead to poor construction. Ac
By Diplomacy Journal Kim Ji-eun Gyeongnam Traffic Culture Training Institute (GTCTI) T-Gallery is an exhibition space for people who love art and culture, displaying various artworks freely. Not only the works of local artists, but also the works of famous artists from home and abroad are on display to convey the joy of art to many people. T-Gallery holds new exhibitions every month. The exhibitions cover various forms of artworks such as painting, photography, sculpture, and installation art. In particular, we strive to reach out to visitors related to education within the GTCTI. This time, T
By Lee Jon-young SG Gold Group held a commemorative event at the Ellina Hotel in Nonhyeon-dong, Seoul on Jan. 29, 2024, inviting employees and stakeholders of the Group and its subsidiaries to report on the business performance of the year 2023 and announce the business plan for the new year 2024. SG Gold Group reported on its achievements over the past two years, stating that it has been striving to enhance the group's brand value through its own events, sponsorships and collaborations with external organizations, and has been building and expanding its business network at home and abroad thr
By Lee Jon-young Chairman Lee Jon-young of the Bukgwan Victory Monument (Bukgwandaecheopbi) National Movement Central Committee (Star who saved the country, General Jeong Mun-bu) will exhibit the stele for the victory in battle at the northern frontier by General Jeong Mun-bu from January 24, 2024, in the first-floor lobby of Doosan We’ve Building located at 81 Sambong-ro, Jongno-gu, Seoul. The stele reproduces the 420-year history of the Bukgwan Victory Monument, which was looted by the Japanese in 1592 during the Imjin War, and returned to its hometown in North Korea after 100 years. Jeong M
By Lee Jon-young President Yoon Suk-yeol attended a pre-Games reception for the Ganwon 2024 Winter Youth Olympic Games in Gangneung, South Korea, where he met with IOC President Thomas Bach and greeted IOC members on Jan. 19. The President first talked with Bach, wishing him success for the Games and discussing sports. "Sport is not only important for the well-being of the human community, but it is also key to building a nation's industry and capacity," the President said, referring to the book 'The British Empire was born on an Eton School soccer field'. "For the future of the country, the r
By Lee Kap-soo The following article was contributed by Madina Aripova, Chief Research Fellow at the Institute for Strategic and Regional Studies under the President of the Republic of Uzbekistan, to the Diplomacy Journal for publication via the Embassy of Uzbekistan in Seoul. –Ed. On January 23-25 of this year, President of the Republic of Uzbekistan Shavkat Mirziyoyev will pay a state visit to the People's Republic of China, which, will undoubtedly be of high significance and will give a new impetus to the expansion and deepening of Uzbek-Chinese cooperation. At present, despite geopolitical
By Lee Kap-soo The following article was contributed by the Embassy of Azerbaijan in Seoul to the Diplomacy Journal for publication. –Ed. January 20, 2024 marks the 34th anniversary of the military invasion and killing of civilians in the city of Baku, Azerbaijan by the forces of the Soviet Army on January 20, 1990. In response to the rising national independence movement, the Soviet leadership ordered some 26000 troops with heavy military equipment to storm the city of Baku in an operation called “Strike”. The Soviet army sent to the country in order to forcefully suppress the mass protests o