By Diplomacy Journal Lee Kap-soo At a press conference held at the Embassy of Guatemala in Seoul on Nov. 13, Guatemalan Ambassador to Korea Sara Solis highlighted the excellence of Guatemalan coffee and expressed hopes of attracting more Korean tourists to experience the country’s rich culture and natural beauty. The ambassador emphasized that Guatemalan coffee, grown in volcanic soil at high altitudes above 1,500 meters, offers a rich aroma and balanced acidity that perfectly suit Korean tastes. “Koreans have a deep appreciation for quality coffee, and we believe Guatemala’s beans can bring t
By Diplomacy Journal Kayla Lee Praying for the successful hosting of the 2027 World Youth Day in Seoul, the ‘Concert of Love’ commemorating the 78th anniversary of the establishment of Jamwon-dong Cathedral of the Catholic Archdiocese of Seoul will be held on the evening of November 15 in the main sanctuary. This concert will be open to all, featuring free admission and open seating, designed as an inclusive festival for both parishioners and local residents. Amidst the gentle melodies enveloping late autumn, the parish community will share a time of faith filled with hope and love. Ahead of t
By Diplomacy Journal Lee Gil-ju Ambassador Yoon Jong-kwon, Director-General for International Cyber Cooperation at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and Ambassador Chung Sung-hoon, Military Representative to NATO and the EU at the Permanent Mission of the Republic of Korea to Belgium (representing the Ministry of National Defense), held the first Korea-EU Security and Defense Dialogue in Brussels on December 11 with Benedikta von Seherr-Thoss, Director of the Peace, Security and Defense Division, European External Action Service (EEAS). They shared assessments of the current international secur
By Diplomacy Journal Lee Kap-soo Hyundai Motor Group announced a multilateral Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on Nov. 11 with Pyeongtaek City and key partners to develop carbon-neutral hydrogen port initiatives. The partnership aims to establish Korean model for port decarbonization and contribute to national carbon neutrality goals. Under the agreement, Hyundai Motor Company will oversee hydrogen-related business strategy, while Kia Corporation and Hyundai Glovis Co. will introduce and operate hydrogen fuel cell power generators at their facilities in Pyeongtaek Port. The initiative aims to
By Diplomacy Journal Kayla Lee The 21st Korea-Middle East Cooperation Forum was held in Doha, Qatar on November 10, under the auspices of the Korean and Qatari Ministries of Foreign Affairs. It was co-hosted by the Korea-Arab Society (KAS), the Jeju Peace Institute (JPI), and the Middle East Council on Global Affairs (MEC) of Qatar. The Korea-Middle East Cooperation Forum is a 1.5-track forum held alternately in Korea and the Middle East since 2003 to enhance mutual understanding, deepen practical cooperation, and strengthen human networks with influential Middle Eastern figures. Since 2022, i
By Diplomacy Journal Lee Kap-soo LG Electronics showcased its ultra-premium built-in kitchen appliance brand, SKS, at Design Week Mexico 2025, one of Latin America’s largest design festivals, the company said on Nov. 7. As the exclusive home appliance brand partner of this year’s event, SKS successfully elevated its brand presence in the region, reaffirming its leadership in the global luxury built-in market. At Design House, the flagship exhibition of Design Week Mexico, visitors were invited to experience the full SKS lineup of ultra-premium built-in kitchen appliances, including the SKS ref
By Diplomacy Journal Lee Kap-soo Ambassador of Kazakhstan Nurgali Arystanov held a meeting with Mr. Ban Ki-moon, the 8th Secretary-General of the United Nations and Chairman of the Global Green Growth Institute (GGGI), on the margins of Global Green Growth Week 2025. During the meeting, the parties exchanged views on the prospects for cooperation in the field of green development. Ambassador Arystanov expressed his appreciation to Mr. Ban for his significant contribution to strengthening bilateral cooperation, including through active participation in events organized by Kazakhstan. In this co
By Diplomacy Journal Lee Gil-ju Foreign Minister Cho Hyun, visiting Canada to attend the G7 Foreign Ministers' Meeting, held his first bilateral meeting with British Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper on November 11 (local time). Minister Cho congratulated Minister Cooper on her appointment (September 2025) and expressed hope to deepen practical cooperation between the two countries across various fields, including economy and trade, defense and security, and science and technology. He also expressed hope that the ongoing Korea-UK FTA improvement negotiations would be expedited, thereby further s
By Diplomacy Journal Lee Kap-soo The 16th Executive Committee meeting of the Secretariat of the Central Asia–Republic of Korea Cooperation Forum was held in Seoul, where participants discussed ways to strengthen partnerships between the countries of the region and the Republic of Korea. The meeting was attended by representatives of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Korea, the Forum Secretariat, and the Embassies of the Central Asian countries. The agenda covered the 2025 activities of the Secretariat and the main priorities for 2026, including preparations for the first Centr
By Diplomacy Journal Lee Gil-ju The Ministry of Foreign Affairs held the “2025 Forum for Youth Expansion to Latin America” on November 11, at Hankuk University of Foreign Studies in Seoul. The forum, held annually, provides youth with information on career opportunities in Latin America and serves as a networking platform to share work experiences in the region. This year’s forum brought together Latin America experts, officials from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and other public institutions in charge of overseas employment support programs. Professionals in energy, automobile and content i
By Diplomacy Journal Lee Kap-soo Minister of Unification Chung Dong-young met with Thai Ambassador to South Korea Tanee Sangrat on Nov. 10 to discuss cooperation between South Korea and Thailand regarding the situation on the Korean Peninsula and policies toward North Korea and unification. Minister Chung highly praised the political and diplomatic achievements between Korea and Thailand during the recent APEC summit and requested further strengthening of strategic communication between the two countries for peaceful coexistence on the Korean Peninsula and regional peace and prosperity. He urg
By Diplomacy Journal Lee Kap-soo The Embassy of the Republic of Korea in Greece, led by Ambassador Lim Joo-sung, announced on Nov. 10 (local time) that it awarded the Diplomatic Order of Merit, Gwanghwa Medal, to former Greek Ambassador to Korea Ekaterini Loupas on behalf of the Korean government. Former Ambassador Loupas was recognized for her contributions to the development of bilateral relations during her tenure as Ambassador to Korea from 2022 to 2024. The Order of Diplomatic Service is awarded to individuals who have contributed to the development of Korea's diplomatic relations. Expres
By Diplomacy Journal Kayla Lee The Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism (MCST), in collaboration with the Korean Foundation for International Cultural Exchange (KOFICE), successfully hosted the 2025 ASEAN-Korea Music Concert in Vietnam on November 1 and hosted the 2025 ASEAN-Korea Innovate Culture Forum in Singapore on November 8 as part of its Future Innovation Cultural Exchange Initiative, which aims to advance foundations for cultural exchange while broadening mutual understanding and cooperation between Korea and ASEAN countries. Sponsored by the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism,
By Diplomacy Journal Lee Kap-soo The Seoul Metropolitan Government (SMG) announced that Nodeul Island will go through its first major transformation in 55 years. Popular among Seoul citizens, this popular sunset spot will become a global art island that brings together exhibitions, performances, and rest beyond its role as a leisure space. Titled “Nodeul Global Art Island,” it is part of Seoul’s Hangang Renaissance 2.0: Great Hangang Project launched in 2023. The project aims to make the entire ground, waterfront and aerial spaces of Nodeul Island accessible to the public, expanding from the o
By Diplomacy Journal Lee Kap-soo Ministry of Foreign Affairs Ambassador for International Cyber Cooperation Yoon Jong-kwon held the 2nd Korea-Netherlands Security Consultative Meeting with Wouter Jurgens, Director-General for Security Policy at the Dutch Ministry of Foreign Affairs, in The Hague, Netherlands, on November 10. During this Security Consultative Meeting, both sides exchanged views on various security issues facing the two countries, including: ▴assessment of the security threat environment, ▴non-proliferation of weapons of mass destruction (WMD), ▴emerging security threats, and ▴n