By Diplomacy Journal Lee Jon-young The following article was contributed by Master Cheon Gong to the Diplomacy Journal for publication. –Ed. South Korea has a political system centered on a two-party system. The existence of small and medium-sized parties also includes elements of a multiparty system. The problem is that this political structure makes it difficult to reflect the diverse voices of the people and increases political polarization. We are now at a point where we need to consider whether this structure is suitable for the future. The current state of Korean politics and its limitat
By Diplomacy Journal Lee Kap-soo (New Year Message) Dear readers of the Diplomacy Journal, On behalf of the Royal Thai Embassy and Team Thailand in Seoul, I would like to send my warmest wishes to the people of the Republic of Korea and the Thai community in the ROK. This season of renewal is an opportune moment to reflect on the deep friendship and ever-growing strategic partnership between our two nations. In 2024, we witnessed high-level visits to the ROK of Thai Minister of Defence, Minister of Labour, Minister of Foreign Affairs, and that of the President of the National Assembly of Thail
By Diplomacy Journal Lee Kap-soo (New Year Message) Dear readers of the Diplomacy Journal, As we approach the close of 2024, there is a profound sense of fulfillment that fills us all. It is with immense joy and gratitude that I take this opportunity, on behalf of the entire Embassy team, my family, and myself, to extend my heartfelt end-of-year and New Year’s greetings to the Government and the people of the Republic of Korea. The year 2024 has been a year of remarkable achievements, rich in experiences and diverse learning, and marked by significant diplomatic strides. The relationship betwe
By Diplomacy Journal Lee Kap-soo (New Year Message) Dear readers of the Diplomacy Journal, On the threshold of the Year 2025, I’m very delighted to convey my warmest felicitations and best wishes for prosperous and happy New Year to all respected readers of the ‘Diplomacy Journal’. Whilst the world had gone through a year full of chaos, war, violence and selfishness, the celebration of the birth of Christ will serve as an optimal opportunity to follow his ideals namely “ Love, Hope, Peace and Happiness” for a better world, and losing such ideals will lead the humanity towards the path of destr
By Diplomacy Journal Lee Kap-soo Hanwha Aerospace announced on Dec. 17 that it has shipped a fresh batch of four K9 Self-Propelled Howitzers and eight K10 Ammunition Resupply Vehicles to Norway, a key commitment to supporting the Norwegian defence capability. The shipment is a part of a 2022 contract to supply more K9 VIDAR(Versatile Indirect Artillery) and K10 systems following the successful implementation of the first contract for 24 K9s and six K10s signed in 2017. The artillery systems are expected to arrive in Norway in about two months for the delivery to the Norwegian Armed Forces afte
By Diplomacy Journal Lee Kap-soo The Qatar Embassy in Seoul celebrated the country’s national day on Dec. 16, on the occasion of the accession of Sheikh Jassim bin Mohammed Al Thani, the founder of the State of Qatar. Delivering welcome remarks at the reception held at the Shilla Hotel in Seoul, Qatar Ambassador to Korea Khalid Ebrahim al-Hamar said, “This year’s celebration is particularly significant as it coincides with the 50th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between the State of Qatar and the Republic of Korea. “These relations now have reached the stage of compre
By Diplomacy Journal Lee Kap-soo (New Year Message) Dear readers of the Diplomacy Journal, As we stand on the threshold of a new year, I sincerely wish you and your loved ones a year ahead filled with hope, good health, and happiness. The year that has passed has been a remarkable one for Uzbekistan, marked by significant achievements and important milestones. We have taken bold steps toward advancing the potential and competitiveness of our nation. Key sectors of our economy are progressing dynamically, with the inauguration of modern enterprises, high-tech industries, and new transport and c
By Diplomacy Journal Lee Kap-soo (New Year Message) Dear readers of the Diplomacy Journal, As we welcome the New Year 2025, I extend my heartfelt greetings to all readers and the people of the Republic of Korea. May this year bring peace, prosperity, and success to everyone. The year zo24 was a significant period in Sri Lanka-Korea relations. Our collaboration flourished across trade, education, culture, and tourism. Highlights included the successful launch of joint trade initiatives and cultural events celebrating the rich heritage of both nations. We also strengthened our academic exchanges
By Diplomacy Journal Lee Kap-soo (New Year Message) Dear readers of the Diplomacy Journal, These are challenging times to be a diplomat, given the global tensions and polarization we face. And perhaps this is especially true in Korea, where the geopolitical landscape is both complex and rapidly evolving. Political turbulence is inevitable, reflecting the ongoing effort to secure well-being amid constant change. Avoiding these difficulties is not an option; addressing them head-on is essential. And it is in such moments that diplomacy proves its greatest value, thriving on dialogue and mutual u
By Diplomacy Journal Lee Kap-soo The Korean-German Chamber of Commerce and Industry (KGCCI, President & CEO Martin Henkelmann) and Sungjoo Foundation have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) at Sungjoo Group Building on December 13, 2024. The MoU marks a significant step in fostering collaboration for KGCCI’s “Women In koRea” (WIR) mentorship program, an initiative dedicated to empowering women leadership and advancing gender equality in society. Under this partnership, KGCCI and the Sungjoo Foundation will co-organize workshops, exhibition, and activities under the WIR mentorship p
By Diplomacy Journal Lee Kap-soo The Indian Chamber of Commerce in Korea (ICCK) has appointed Gyusang Jeong as its new Secretary-General. The newly appointed Secretary-General, Mr. Jeong, got a Ph.D. in Aerospace Engineering in the United States and has many years of experience in corporate research institutes, working on national research projects and product development. Mr. Jeong was recently involved in the Kenya-AIST (Kenya Advanced Institute of Science and Technology) construction project in Nairobi, Kenya, as part of an ODA (Official Development Assistance) initiative as a Senior Resear
By Diplomacy Journal Lee Kap-soo (New Year Message) Dear readers of the Diplomacy Journal, Looking back on the year that is about to end, we realize that it was marked by the outbreak of conflicts in several parts of the globe and by elections in various parts of the world, including South Korea, where parliamentary elections were held in April. Unfortunately, military conflicts have also dominated international news, with wars in Europe, the conflict in the Middle East, not to mention some localized conflicts in Africa, in all cases with unnecessary loss of human lives and almost total destru
By Diplomacy Journal Lee Kap-soo The Korean-German Chamber of Commerce and Industry (KGCCI, President & CEO Martin Henkelmann) and the French-Korean Chamber of Commerce and Industry (FKCCI) co-hosted a special reception with Korean Prime Minister Han Duck-soo on December 11 at Banyan Tree Club and Spa Hotel in Seoul, South Korea. This special reception was organized to assess recent developments in economic policy, foreign investment, and overall status of business environment for German, French and other European companies in Korea. This gathering comes on the heels of last week’s brief m
By Diplomacy Journal Lee Kap-soo The 4th International Strategic Communication Forum (Stratcom Summit' 24), organised by the Presidency's Directorate of Communications, will take place in Istanbul on December 13-14 with the theme "AI in Communication: Trends, Traps, and Transition." The Stratcom Summit'24, Türkiye's largest communication summit, will bring together the leading figures of international communication to deliberate on the transformations in the field of communication through artificial intelligence. The forum, which will kick off with the opening speeches of Vice President Cevdet
By Diplomacy Journal Lee Kap-soo (New Year Message) Dear readers of the Diplomacy Journal, I would like to take this opportunity to express my heartfelt gratitude for your interest in Venezuela, a country with a proud and heroic past, a resilient present, and a promising future. Venezuela is committed to passing down a free, independent, and socially just nation to future generations, overcoming the many crises caused by the forces of capitalism. The year 2024 has been a pivotal one for strengthening diplomatic relations between Venezuela and the Republic of Korea. I want to extend my deepest