By Kim Hak-young Portrait paintings have played a very important role in art history over the ages, and the writer met Jisan Park Young-gil at his Insa-dong studio. There is a painter in the Korean art world who is considered a master of portrait painting. This is Park Young-gil, chairman of the Korean Portrait Painters Association. The moment you enter Park's studio in Insa-dong, Seoul, you are greeted by works that speak volumes about his mastery of portraiture. From the majestic and vivid portraits of the late President Park Chung-hee to former U.S. President Reagan to the world-famous base
By Diplomacy Journal Lee Kap-soo The 94th Namwon Chunhyang Festival, Korea's longest-running traditional performing arts festival, kicked off on May 10 with an opening ceremony attended by more than 5,000 domestic and foreign guests. According to Namwon City and the Chunhyang Festival Committee, the 94th Namwon Chunhyang Festival was held for seven days from May 10 to 16 in Gwanghanruwon, Namwon, under the theme of 'Chunhyang, falls in love with color' with more than 40 programs. With the active participation of foreign ambassadors, senior diplomats and overseas performance teams, the festival
By Diplomacy Journal Lee Jon-young President Yoon Suk-yeol said at a press conference on May 9, “I will mobilize all the country's capabilities to overcome the declining birthrate, which is a national emergency,” and announced the establishment of a new planning ministry, tentatively titled the 'Ministry of Low Birthrate Response Planning,' to prepare for a low birthrate and aging population.” President Yoon made the announcement in a message to the public earlier in the day at a press conference on the second anniversary of his inauguration at the Yongsan presidential office in Seoul. “We wil
By Diplomacy Journal Lee Kap-soo KEPCO, led by CEO Kim Dong-cheol, signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with the Ministry of Energy of the Kyrgyz Republic for technical cooperation in the energy sector, KEPCO announced on May 10. The MOU provides an opportunity for KEPCO to cooperate with the Kyrgyz Republic on new energy technologies such as high-voltage direct current transmission (HVDC) and intelligent electricity metering system (AMI). “We will share our experience in growing the power business with the Kyrgyz Republic and continue to cooperate on new energy projects such as high-vol
By Diplomacy Journal Kayla Lee Pinocchio sits on a green couch deep in the forest. He is gazing at the distant sky with a slight smile on his face. Perhaps he's remembering a pleasant memory. A soft melody seems to be coming from the speaker of a phonometer poking its head into the forest across the street. The whole forest is filled with a clean energy. Pinocchio looks like an adult. He looks childlike and wary. He enjoys the infinite delusions of his imagination with his delicate wings, which are not yet strong enough to fly. The messengers of his excitement are a couple of lovebirds. Health
By Diplomacy Journal Lee Jon-young “Daegu Prison, with a history of 100 years, will start a new 100 years in Habin.” Daegu Prison held a relocation ceremony at the prison's general sports field in Habin-myeon, Dalseong-gun, Daegu City on May 2. More than 300 guests attended the ceremony, including Daegu Mayor Hong Joon-pyo, Minister of Justice Park Sung-jae, Dalseong-gun Mayor Choi Jae-hoon, Daegu High Prosecutor's Office Director Noh Jung-yeon, Daegu District Prosecutor's Officew Director Shin Eung-seok, Corrections Headquarters Director Shin Yong-hae, Daegu Regional Corrections Commissioner
By Diplomacy Journal Lee Kap-soo GS E&C, Dongbu E&C, and Daebo E&C have received a one-year ban from bidding on public works projects from LH in connection with the collapse of the underground parking lot of an apartment building in Geomdan, Incheon, last year. GS E&C and Dongbu E&C announced on May 3 that they have been notified by LH that they have been banned from bidding on public works projects. As a result, the companies will not be able to participate in bidding for public works projects ordered by domestic public institutions for one year from May 22 this year to Ma
By Diplomacy Journal Lee Kap-soo Minister of Foreign Affairs Cho Tae-yul visited China and had a meeting with Wang Yi, member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee and Minister of Foreign Affairs, on May 13. The two ministers agreed to continue their cooperation for the success of the 9th Korea-Japan-China Summit to be held soon in Korea. It was the first meeting between the two ministers since Minister Cho took office. During the meeting and the ensuing dinner, the two sides held in-depth discussions on issues of mutual interest including overall Kore
By Diplomacy Journal Lee Kap-soo On May 14, 2024, within the framework of the celebration of the 300th anniversary of birth of the great Turkmen poet and thinker Magtymguly Fragi, the Embassy of Turkmenistan in the Republic of Korea held an international scientific conference and the exhibition in the Yongsan district Administration building of Seoul. The heads and staff of the Central Asia-Republic of Korea Cooperation Forum Secretariat, heads of the diplomatic missions accredited in the Republic of Korea, researchers, representatives of creative intellectuals, students as well as media repre
By Diplomacy Journal Lee Kap-soo Minister of Foreign Affairs Cho Tae-yul, who visited Australia to attend the sixth ROK-Australia Foreign and Defense Ministers’ (2+2) Meeting, held a “Meeting with Businesspeople” with Korean entrepreneurs in Melbourne on April 30, and also had a “Dialogue with the Young Generation” for Korean students studying in Australia and participants of working holiday programs. During the meeting with businesspeople, Minister Cho said that the Ministry of Foreign Affairs will spare no effort in providing necessary support to Korean businesses for expanding exports and o
By Diplomacy Journal Lee Kap-soo In March 2024, President of the Sungkyunkwan University Yoo Ji-beom led a delegation to Kazakhstan to strengthen academic ties and explore new collaborations. The visit included stops at three universities: Satbayev University, Gumilyov Eurasian National University (ENU), and Nazarbayev University. The primary focus of the visit was to discuss opportunities for educational and research cooperation. The delegation discussed student exchange programs, attracting top Kazakh students to Sungkyunkwan's graduate schools, and nurturing experts in science and engineeri