By Lee Kap-soo The following is the full-text of the New Year message delivered by UN Secretary-General António Guterres on Dec. 28, 2023. -- Ed. 2023 has been a year of enormous suffering, violence, and climate chaos. Humanity is in pain. Our planet is in peril. 2023 is the hottest year on record. People are getting crushed by growing poverty and hunger. Wars are growing in number and ferocity. And trust is in short supply. But pointing fingers and pointing guns lead nowhere. Humanity is strongest when we stand together. 2024 must be a year for rebuilding trust and restoring hope. We must com
By Lee Kap-soo Ilhwa Co. announced on Dec. 29 that it has signed a supply contract to export its barley carbonated beverage 'Mc Col' to South Africa. By signing a supply agreement with Trilion Cart, a local network group with many large affiliates in South Africa, Ilhwa will officially introduce Mc Col to the African market. The supply agreement totals 200,000 cans. Mc Col is Korea's leading longevity brand, launched in 1982. It is characterized by its cool and refreshing barley flavor. It has rich nutritional ingredients such as vitamins B1, B2, and vitamin C. It is currently exported to the
By Kayla Lee Seoul Tourism Organization (STO), led by CEO Gil Ki-yeon, has reorganized the Seoul Lantern Festival & Gwanghwamun Square Market into Season 2 for the New Year 2024. Season 2 will run from January 1 to 21. First of all, the Seoul Lantern Festival will add a media show for the New Year and conduct various experience programs. A projection mapping content 'New Year Media Show' will be held from 9:50 p.m. to 10 p.m. every day until the 21st in the White Hall, a 360-degree sphere representing the universe, wholeness, and earth. Various videos symbolizing the city, people, and natu
By Lee Kap-soo The International Youth Fellowship (IYF), a non-governmental organization (NGO), announced on Jan. 3 that it will push for mind education for youth character development in Uganda, East Africa. IYF founder Rev. Park Ok-soo met with Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni in Kiruhura, Uganda, on Jan. 1 (local time) to exchange views on the introduction of mind education. Rev. Park introduced mind education from around the world and explained his plans to establish a mind education center, introduce mind education to public education in Uganda, and provide training for government offici
By Lee Kap-soo Singapore Tourism Board (STB) announced the appointment of Nicky Seet as the new head of its Korea office on Dec. 20. Nicky Seet will continue to lead strategic planning, marketing and promotional activities to make Singapore an attractive destination for Koreans, in line with the launch of Singapore Tourism Board's new global campaign, 'Made in Singapore'. She joined Singapore Tourism Board in 2015 as Senior Manager, Lifestyle Area Development, where she spearheaded the regeneration of Singapore's Orchard Road and supported various community activities. Orchard Road has recentl
By Lee Kap-soo LG Chem has commenced the construction of a cathode plant in the U.S., intending to establish a production hub for the global battery material market. The facility, located in Montgomery County, Clarksville, Tennessee, will locally produce cathode materials optimized for North American electric vehicles (EVs) and collaborate with key partners from development to supply chain. On December 20, LG Chem held the groundbreaking ceremony for its cathode plant in Tennessee. The event was attended by guests including Tennessee Governor Bill Lee, Commissioner Stuart McWhorter, Senator Ma
Diplomacy Journal By Kayla Lee | January 2024 Vol. 182. Diplomacy Journal. Jpg
By Lee Kap-soo Minister for Trade Dukgeun Ahn and Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) Secretary General Jassim Mohammed Al-Budaiwi concluded and signed the joint statement for the Korea-GCC Free Trade Agreement (FTA) on December 28 in Seoul. The Korea-GCC FTA is Korea’s 25th FTA (by concluded order), and the second FTA with an Arab country following the Korea-United Arab Emirates (UAE) Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA) concluded in October. Trade Minister Ahn assessed, “Alongside the CEPA concluded with the UAE in October, this FTA signed with GCC is a major catalyst for the sprea
By Lee Kap-soo U.S. Ambassador to Korea Philip Goldberg said on Dec. 27, "The people-to-people relationship between the United States and South Korea is the core foundation of our diplomacy, economic competitiveness, and national security." In his 2024 New Year message to the U.S.-ROK Alliance Foundation, Ambassador Goldberg said that this relationship is "a strong anchor for the friendship between our two countries." "As we celebrated the 70th anniversary of the U.S.-South Korea alliance in 2023, I reflect on what we have accomplished," Goldberg said, citing President Yoon Suk-yeol's state vi
By Lee Kap-soo Delivering the New Year address to the nation, President Yoon Suk-yeol said on Jan. 1, 2024, "The center of all national affairs is the people. I will make the year of 2024 a year of civil recovery where the warmth of economic achievements and economic recovery reaches every corner of people's lives." President Yoon said in his address, which was broadcast live from the Yongsan presidential office on the morning of the same day, "I will go into the field of people's lives, listen to even the smallest voices, and promote true people's policies that change people's lives." Preside
Diplomacy Journal Lee Jon Young | On December 27, President of the Republic of Uzbekistan Shavkat Mirziyoyev participated in the launching ceremony of major joint projects in the field of green energy and gave a speech. Below is the full text of the speech of the head of Uzbekistan at this ceremony. Distinguished participants of the solemn ceremony! Ladies and gentlemen! At the outset, I am happy to see you all on the eve of New Year at the solemn ceremony dedicated to the launch of major joint projects in the field of ‘green’ energy, which is a landmark event in the life of New Uzbekistan. Yo
By Lee Kap-soo On December 27, President of the Republic of Uzbekistan Shavkat Mirziyoyev participated in the commissioning ceremony and connecting to the network 5 solar and 1 wind power plants in six regions of the country. The event was attended by the CEO of Masdar, Mohamed Jameel Al Ramahi, Vice President of China Energy Engineering Corporation Wu Yun, Chairman of the Board of China Energy International Group Lyu Zexiang, Chairman of the Board of China Gezhouba Group Lin Xiaodan, CEOs of SEPCO III, Dongfang Electric Corporation and others, with whom these important investment projects are
Diplomacy Journal Lee Jon Young | (Exclusive Interview) "In the upcoming year of 2024, I will do my best to build a predictable audit environment and encourage active management to innovate the organizational culture of KSPO," said Ha Hyung-joo, the standing auditor of Korea Sports Promotion Foundation (KSPO), on Dec. 28. In an exclusive interview with Diplomacy Jopurnal, Ha said, "It has been five months since I was appointed as the standing auditor of the KSPO, and I have improved my understanding of the KSPO's business through reports from each business unit, and I have set the audit philos
Diplomacy Journal | Journalist Lee JY’s photo exploration
Diplomacy Journal | Journalist Lee JY’s photo exploration