By Diplomacy Journal Lee Kap-soo The Korean-German Chamber of Commerce and Industry (KGCCI) held the KGCCI Economic Outlook 2025 on January 23 at Four Seasons Hotel Seoul. The event brought together over 80 business leaders, governmental officials, and industry experts to examine the future of Korean-German economic collaboration in an evolving global landscape. The event featured distinguished speakers including Joern Beissert, Deputy Ambassador of German Embassy in Korea; Dr. Jiho Lee, Director General of the Research Department at the Bank of Korea (BOK), and Katharina Viklenko, Director an
By Diplomacy Journal Lee Kap-soo Hanwha announced a strategic partnership with the International Institute for Strategic Studies (IISS) and the Korea Foundation (KF) to establish the Korea Chair at IISS. The signing ceremony took place at the Shangri-La Hotel in Singapore on Jan. 23. The initiative will fund a full-time Senior Fellow for Korean Security Studies—the IISS Korea Chair in Advanced Technologies, National Security, and Defense—at IISS’ London headquarters, Arundel House. The Chair will engage with governments, the private sector, and global expert communities, contributing research
By Diplomacy Journal Lee Kap-soo The following article was contributed by the Embassy of Belarus in Seoul to Diplomacy Journal for publication. --Ed. In 2025, the Republic of Belarus assumes the Chairmanship of the Eurasian Economic Union (EAEU) for the third time since the establishment of one of the key integration associations of Eurasia. The priorities of the Belarusian chairmanship were outlined in the Address of the President of the Republic of Belarus, Aleksandr Lukashenko, to the leaders of the EAEU member states, published in January 2025. 1. It is necessary to focus joint efforts on
By Diplomacy Journal Lee Kap-soo On a business trip to the United States, Incheon City Mayor Yoo Jung-bok extended an official invitation to President Trump and Vice President J.D. Vance to attend the 75th anniversary of the Incheon Landings Operation, which is scheduled to take place in September. “The Incheon landings operation is comparable to the Normandy landings in historical significance and importance,” Mayor Yoo said in the letter, adding, ”If President Donald Trump attends the event, it will be an opportunity to further strengthen the U.S.-ROK alliance in various fields such as milit
By Diplomacy Journal Lee Kap-soo Donald Trump has been sworn in for a second term as president of the United States at noon local time (17:00 GMT) in Washington, DC. Donald Trump took office as the United States' 47th president on Jan. 20, renewing his vow to "put America first" and tariff foreign countries to enrich Americans, while signaling an intent to refrain from military involvement in conflicts overseas. During his swearing-in ceremony in the Capitol Rotunda in Washington, Trump, 78, underscored his America First credo as his second four-year term is expected to see a major shift in th
By Diplomacy Journal Lee Kap-soo KT&G Corporation hosted a ceremony celebrating the Türkiye factory expansion on Jan. 16. The expansion is part of KT&G's efforts to leap to a "Global Top-tier" and to strengthen its global operations. KT&G celebrated the expansion of its Turkiye factory to fulfill its goal to leap to a 'Global Top-tier' and to expand its global operations. Around 50 major participants, including KT&G's CEO Kyung-man Bang, Tire District Governor Vural Karagül, the Korean ambassador to Türkiye Yeon-doo Jeong, Tire Mayor Hayati Okuroğlu, and President of Department
By Diplomacy Journal Lee Kap-soo The following article was contributed by the Embassy of Azerbaijan to Diplomacy Journal for publication. -- Ed. On 20 January 2025, it will be 35 years since the military assault against the people of Azerbaijan and an unprecedented massacre targeting civilians by the former Soviet regime in breach of international law. Towards the end of the 1980s, the former Soviet Union’s disregard for Armenia's illegal territorial claims against our country, deportation of hundreds of thousands of Azerbaijanis from their ancestral lands in present-day Armenia, and inciting
By Diplomacy Journal Lee Kap-soo Korean artist Jang An-soon breathes life into the unassuming reed (蘆絮), transforming it into a profound symbol of human emotion and the natural world. For Jang, reeds are not mere plants swaying in the wind; they are living metaphors for the ebb and flow of human existence. Their movements reflect life's challenges and triumphs, while their seasonal transformations symbolize the passage of time. In Jang’s hands, the reed becomes a bridge connecting humanity to nature’s essence, a medium for exploring life’s subtleties. At the core of Jang’s artistic philosophy
By Diplomacy Journal Lee Kap-soo The following article was contributed by the Embassy of Uzbekistan in Seoul to Diplomacy Journal for publication. --Ed. At the invitation of the President of the United Arab Emirates, Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, the President of the Republic of Uzbekistan, Shavkat Mirziyoyev visited the UAE. On January 15, at the Qasr Al Watan residence in Abu Dhabi, the President of the Republic of Uzbekistan Shavkat Mirziyoyev and the President of the United Arab Emirates Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan held talks in a contracted format and with the participation o
By Diplomacy Journal Lee Kap-soo "Kenya is one of the premier tourist destinations in Africa, famous for its stunning landscapes, magnificent wildlife and pleasant climate," said Amb. Emmy Jerono Kipsoi of Kenya to South Korea said. In an exclusive interview with Diplomacy Journal on Jan. 15, Amb. Kipsoi said, "I recommend foreign tourists, including South Korean travelers, to Visit maasai mara for the wildebeest migration, Nairobi National park ,climb mount Kenya (the 2nd highest mountain in Africa),tour the Great Rift Valley lakes ,Giraffe Centre (eat with giraffes),Bomas of Kenya, Fort Jesu
By Diplomacy Journal Lee Kap-soo Choi Sang-mok, Acting President and Deputy Prime Minister, met with ambassadors from the Group of Seven (G7) and the European Union (EU) on Jan. 15, saying that “the Korean economic system is operating stably.” “Under the acting presidential system, our government is carrying out its work in various fields, including the economy and security, without any wavering,” Choi said during a luncheon meeting with the ambassadors. In particular, Choi emphasized the maintenance of the government's foreign policy stance and reaffirmed its cooperative relations with major
By Diplomacy Journal Lee Kap-soo The following article was contributed by Nabiyev Narimon, leading researcher at the Institute for Strategic and Regional Studies under the President of the Republic of Uzbekistan, to Diplomacy Journal for publication through the Embassy of Uzbekistan in Seoul. --Ed. All of us know and appreciate that in the most challenging years of the formation of our young state, our Armed Forces have served as a reliable guarantee of the independence of our country, the peaceful life and well-being of our people, as well as the successful implementation of democratic reform
By Diplomacy Journal Lee Kap-soo The Embassy of the Republic of Singapore in Seoul unveiled a logo to commemorate the 50th anniversary of diplomatic relations between Singapore and the Republic of Korea on Jan. 13. The design, submitted by a team of students from the Korea National University of Arts, was selected as part of the Singapore-South Korea 50th Anniversary Logo Competition, co-organized by the Embassy of Singapore in Korea and the Embassy of the Republic of Korea in Singapore. The logo is based on symbolic elements and colors inspired by the flags of Korea and Singapore, with the nu
By Diplomacy Journal Lee Kap-soo Gyeonggi-do Governor Kim Dong-yeon met with foreign businessmen in South Korea on Jan. 8, asking them to “trust Gyeonggi-do and Korea and do more business with us.” “There is uncertainty about the economic situation due to the political turmoil, but the Korean economy will be upgraded to the next level in the near future based on its resilience and potential,” Kim said during a visit to the American Chamber of Commerce in Korea (AMCHAM), where he met with AMCHAM President James Kim. The meeting was attended by U.S. business members from the semiconductor, biote
By Diplomacy Journal Lee Kap-soo Lee Jae-young, mayor of Jeungpyeong-gun, Chungcheongbuk-do, received a plaque of appreciation from the Embassy of Cambodia in Jung-gu, Seoul on Jan. 8. The plaque was personally delivered by Ambassador Chring Botumrangsay of Cambodia to South Korea, and a meeting was also held to further strengthen bilateral exchange and cooperation between the two countries. Jeungpyeong-gun has been engaging with Cambodia through its embassy in Seoul since 2022, expanding the scope of bilateral exchanges. In October 2023, the two sides formalized their cooperation by signing a