By Diplomacy Journal Lee Kap-soo Shinhan University hosted the Kazakhstan Film Festival, attracting students, media representatives, and academics from South Korea on Nov. 13~14, 2024. In his welcoming remarks at the opening ceremony, Ambassador Nurgali Arystanov highlighted the significance of the festival as a symbol of strong friendship and cultural exchange between Kazakhstan and Korea. Nurgali Arystanov spoke about Kazakhstan’s flourishing film industry since gaining independence, emphasizing that selecting films for the festival was no easy task. In honor of the 800th anniversary of the
By Diplomacy Journal Kayla Lee The K-folk painting Chocheongdo 草蟲圖 is a genre of Korean folk paintings that traditionally depicts grasses and insects, and is characterized by the lively representation of small creatures to capture the harmony and beauty of nature. Damwha explains that it is a modernized version of the Korean folk painting, which can be interpreted as the following interesting stories. The legend of the lost Hanji (韓紙) A long time ago, in a village deep in the forests of Korea, there was a special paper called hanji (韓紙). It was said to capture the energy of the grass, bugs, an
By Diplomacy Journal Lee Jon-young Ha Hyung-joo (62), a 1984 Los Angeles Olympic gold medalist and Korean judo legend, has been appointed as the 14th chairman of the Korea Sports Promotion Foundation (KSPO). Culture, Sports and Tourism Minister Yoo In-chon handed over the letter of appointment to Ha at a conference room at the Seoul Pavilion of the National Museum of Modern and Contemporary Art in Jongno-gu, Seoul, on Nov. 18. Ha is the first former Olympian to hold the position and will serve a three-year term from Nov. 18, 2024, to Nov. 17, 2027. Appointed by the President at the recommendat
By Diplomacy Journal Lee Kap-soo The Sultanate of Oman celebrated the 54th glorious National Day on November 18, marking milestone accomplishments in different areas. The citizens of Oman and various state institutions have rendered an indispensable contribution to the continuous achievements in the path of the comprehensive development during the renewed renaissance of His Majesty Sultan Haitham bin Tarik, who has outlined a wise and sound vision that leads to progress and prosperity in all fields. His Majesty’s directives to all state institutions to continue improving the missions entrusted
By Diplomacy Journal Lee Kap-soo Democratic Party of Korea leader Lee Jae-myung has been sentenced to one year in prison and two years of probation and disqualified from holding office in the first trial for violating the Public Offices Election Act. The Seoul Central District Court's Criminal Division 34 (Deputy Chief Judge Han Sung-jin) sentenced Lee to one year in prison and two years of probation on Dec. 15. If the ruling is confirmed by the Supreme Court, Lee will lose his seat in the National Assembly and will be barred from voting for five years, making it impossible for him to run for
By Diplomacy Journal Lee Kap-soo The Embassy of Turkmenistan in Seoul held the official reception on the occasion of 300th anniversary of birth of the great Turkmen poet and thinker Magtymguly Fragi and the 33rd Anniversary of the Independence of Turkmenistan on Oct. 30, 2024. Delivering a welcoming speech, H.E. B. Durdyyev, Ambassador of Turkmenistan in Seoul said, “We aim to explore new opportunities in innovation, sustainable development, and mutual benefit with South Korea. At the same time, we are interested to contribute not only to the prosperity of our nations but also to regional stab
By Diplomacy Journal Lee Kap-soo SK Plasma, led by CEO Kim Seung-joo, announced on Nov. 14 that it has signed investment agreements with the Indonesia Investment Authority (INA) for the operation of its Indonesian joint venture, PT SKPLASMA CORE INDONESIA (SK Plasma Core). In October last year, SK Plasma signed a term sheet about direction of project and transaction with INA to establish a plasma fractionation plant in Indonesia. The signing ceremony of investment agreements was attended by Ahn Jaehyun, CEO of SK Chemicals and SK Plasma, Kim Seung-joo, President of SK Plasma, Roh Hyunho, CEO o
By Diplomacy Journal Lee Jon-young President Yoon Suk-yeol, who is in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, to attend the G20 Summit, held a summit with South African President Matamela Cyril Ramaphosa on Nov. 19 to exchange views on practical cooperation between the two countries and regional and global issues. President Yoon congratulated President Ramaphosa on his re-election (June 14) in this historic year when South Africa marks the 30th anniversary of the end of apartheid, and expressed his hope that the two countries will continue to strengthen the mutually beneficial partnership that has been streng
By Diplomacy Journal Lee Jon-young President Yoon Suk-yeol, who is visiting Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, to attend the G20 Summit, held a summit with British Prime Minister Keir Starmer on Nov. 19, and exchanged views on regional and global issues, including ways to enhance practical cooperation between the two countries and countering Russia-North Korea military cooperation. President Yoon evaluated the close communication between the two countries as befits their 'global strategic partnership', including the Korea-UK Summit on the occasion of the NATO Summit in July, the Strategic Dialogue betwee
By Diplomacy Journal Kayla Lee Minister of Foreign Affairs Cho Tae-yul held a Foreign Ministers' Meeting on Nov. 14 with U.S. Secretary of State Antony J. Blinken in Lima, Peru, where the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Leaders' Meeting is being held, and exchanged views on U.S.-ROK relations, U.S.-Japan cooperation, North Korea, and key regional issues. Minister Cho and Secretary Blinken expressed concern that Russia's illegal military cooperation with North Korea seriously threatens the security of Europe and the Indo-Pacific region, and agreed to closely coordinate responses to pos
By Diplomacy Journal Lee Jon-young Nothing we experience in the world happens without meaning, and the current situation in North Korea is no exception. North Korea may seem sad and pitiful when viewed fragmentarily, but when viewed in the context of human history, the future, and the entire Korean Peninsula, it takes on a different meaning. Right now, North Korea is pushed to the brink in order to survive. North Korea is in a position where she has to make any choice to survive, and this desperation has forced the country to cooperate with Russia. This is because Russia is the only country th
By Diplomacy Journal Lee Jon-young South Korea and Peru have agreed to expand cooperation in the security sector, including joint development of naval vessels, and increase investment and trade in the mining sector to secure key mineral supply chains. President Yoon Suk-yeol, who is visiting Peru for the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Summit, held a summit with Peruvian President Dina Boluarte on Nov. 16 and adopted a joint declaration. In the joint declaration, President Yoon and President Boluarte said, “Defense and defense industry cooperation has become a milestone in the develop
By Diplomacy Journal Kayla Lee Cheongryongdo traditionally symbolizes the east and is a representation of the Blue Dragon (靑龍), which signifies the beginning of life, growth, and new birth. In Eastern philosophy and the Five Elements of thought, the east is the direction of the wood, which represents spring and is associated with the season of renewal. The Blue Dragon is an animal that appears in spring and is depicted as a being that controls the winds and keeps the energies of nature in harmony. The blue dragon painting is depicted with a double-headed dragon with a long tongue sticking out,
By Diplomacy Journal Lee Jon-young President Yoon Suk-yeol held a summit with Chinese President Xi Jinping in Lima, Peru, on the sidelines of the 31st Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Leaders' Meeting on Nov. 15 (local time). Xi said that since he and Yoon met in Bali two years ago, there have been many changes in the international and regional situation. No matter how the situation changes, Xi emphasized that China and South Korea should uphold the foundations of diplomatic ties, firmly follow the direction of good-neighborly friendship, and adhere to the goal of mutual benefit and wi
By Diplomacy Journal Lee Kap-soo On the occasion of the celebrations of 140 years of diplomatic relations between Italy and Korea and within the framework of the Year of Cultural Exchange between Italy and Korea proclaimed by two countries, the Italian Embassy in Seoul, the Italian Cultural Institute in Seoul and the Korea Foundation are hosting the exhibition MOSAICO. Italian code of a timeless art from November 15, 2024 to February 28, 2025 at the KF Gallery. An unprecedented multimedia exhibition to tell the stories of Italy through the precious testimonies of a timeless expressive code: th