By Diplomacy Journal Lee Jon-young The governments of South Korea and Singapore signed a Supply Chain Partnership Agreement (SCPA) on Oct. 8 during President Yoon Suk-yeol's state visit to Singapore. “We will strengthen supply chain cooperation with Singapore in the bio, energy, and high-tech industries and respond to supply chain disruptions together,” said President Yoon. “I and Prime Minister Wong agreed to further strengthen cooperation on supply chains for strategic goods and energy in response to the growing instability in the international economy,” Yoon said at a joint press conference
By Diplomacy Journal Lee Kap-soo The K-pop group TRENDZ successfully concluded their first solo concert in Türkiye, further proving their global popularity. The concert was co-hosted by Eventi Venti and Korever Company. On October 6, at the JJ Arena Watergarden in Istanbul, the "TRENDZ 1st Türkiye Concert" featured the group's hit songs as well as new tracks, receiving an enthusiastic response from local fans. The concert showcased TRENDZ's wide musical range and strong stage presence, from their 2021 debut song "TNT (Truth & Trust)" to their latest release "GLOW." The group impressed the
By Diplomacy Journal Lee Jon-young President Yoon Suk-yeol held a summit with Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. on Oct. 7 (local time) and agreed to expand economic cooperation, including cooperation on “mega-infrastructure” worth about $2 billion (2.69 trillion won), and strengthen cooperation in the defense and security fields. The two countries also upgraded their bilateral relationship to a “strategic partnership. This is the first formal bilateral relationship in 75 years of diplomatic relations between the two countries. During the Korea-Philippines summit held in Manila, Philipp
By Diplomacy Journal Lee Kap-soo The Korean-German Chamber of Commerce and Industry (KGCCI, President & CEO Martin Henkelmann) and the German Embassy in South Korea, in collaboration with SAP, co-hosted the “Korean-German Climate & Environment Conference 2024” on October 8 at Conrad Hotel Seoul, South Korea. Focusing on the theme of ‘Advancing Climate-Friendly Supply Chains,’ the conference brought together over 90 government officials, business leaders, and climate experts from both countries. Participants explored strategies to combat climate change, foster collaboration between Germ
By Diplomacy Journal Lee Jon-young During his state visit to Singapore, President Yoon Suk-yeol attended the Singapore Lecture organized by the Institute of Southeast Asian Studies (ISEAS) in Singapore on October 9 and delivered a speech entitled “A Unified Korean Peninsula for a Free, Peaceful, and Prosperous Indo-Pacific.” The audience included leading public figures from all walks of life in Singapore, members of the diplomatic corps, Korean compatriots and international students. In his speech, the President noted that Korea’s Indo-Pacific Strategy of Freedom, Peace, and Prosperity and the
By Diplomacy Journal Lee Jon-young In 2024, the Republic of Korea and the Philippines celebrated the 75th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations and issued a joint declaration elevating their relationship to “strategic partnership. The declaration encompasses political, defense, economic, development, maritime, and socio-cultural cooperation between the two countries, and lays out specific directions to continue mutual cooperation and development in the face of rapidly changing regional and international conditions. The Philippines was the first Asian country to support the R
By Diplomacy Journal Lee Kap-soo Sawasdee Seoul Thai Festival 2024, a festival that brings together traditional and modern Thai culture, was held on October 5 and 6 at Cheonggyecheon Square in Seoul. Organized by the Royal Thai Embassy, the festival showcased a variety of Thai culture, including Thai food, T-POP performances, Muay Thai, and more, giving Seoulites and tourists a chance to experience the charm of Thailand up close. The festival ran from 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. on Oct. 5 and until 8 p.m. on Oct. 6, with various programs that allowed visitors to experience both Thai tradition and innova
By Diplomacy Journal Lee Kap-soo In Tashkent was held the Fifth Forum of the Ecological Party of Uzbekistan. The party’s activities in 2020-2024, the election program, and the nomination of candidates to the Legislative Chamber of the Oliy Majlis were discussed. “As part of the 2020-2024 election program, the Ecological Party of Uzbekistan plans to implement more than 80 tasks”, said the Chairman of the Executive Committee of the Central Council of the party Abdushukur Khamzayev. “During this period, members of the party faction submitted 21 draft laws to the Legislative Chamber of the Oliy Ma
By Diplomacy Journal Lee Kap-soo In Tashkent the 9th Congress of the Democratic Party "Milliy Tiklanish" (National Revival) took place, where the results of the party's activities from 2020 to 2024 were analyzed, and the pre-election program for 2025-2029 was approved. During the event, candidates for the Legislative Chamber of the Oliy Majlis of the Republic of Uzbekistan were also nominated. Chairman of the Central Council of the Democratic Party Milliy Tiklanish Alisher Kadyrov, Chairman of the Central Council of the party, delivered a report summarizing the party’s activities over the past
By Diplomacy Journal Lee Kap-soo “The Korean market is one of the most important markets for Croatia tours as it was mentioned before Pandemic that more than half a million Koreans were visiting Croatia in 2019,” said Kristjan Stanicic, visiting general director of Croatian National Tourist Board on Oct. 4. At a presentation on the Croatia travel industry held at Coryo Daeyungak Tower in Seoul, Kristjan Stanicic said, “Croatia is one of the top Mediterranean and European tourism destinations with over 20 or almost 21 million visitors per year with almost 18 million overnights and 90 percent of
By Diplomacy Journal Lee Kap-soo Ambassador Nurgali Arystanov of Kazakhstan to Korea participated in the opening of the Chonbuk-Kazakhstan University Rector’s Forum on Sept. 25, 2024. The event, organized by the Jeonbuk International Cooperation Agency with the support of the administration of North Jeolla Province, brought together leaders from leading universities of both countries. The forum was attended by representatives of Kazakh universities, including Korkyt Ata Kyzylorda University, the Kazakh University of International Relations and World Languages, Suleyman Demirel University, and
By Diplomacy Journal Lee Jon-young President Yoon Suk-yeol presided over a ceremony marking the 76th anniversary of the ROK Armed Forces Day at Seoul International Airport on Oct. 1. About 5,300 troops and 340 pieces of equipment participated in the ceremony, which began with the national anthem, followed by the presentation of the Strategic Command's unit flag, a feverish military ceremony, the presentation of medals and commendations, and a commemorative speech. President Yoon presented the unit flag of the newly created Strategic Command to Strategic Command General Jin Young-seung, express
By Diplomacy Journal Lee Jon-young President Yoon Suk-yeol received Utah Governor Spencer Cox and exchanged views on ways to expand cooperation between Korea and Utah and the direction of the U.S.-ROK alliance on Sept. 27. The President welcomed Governor Cox to his first visit to Korea and expressed his appreciation for his role as a strong supporter of the U.S.-ROK alliance, including attending the 70th anniversary of the U.S.-ROK alliance in Utah last October and declaring October 12 as 'U.S.-ROK Alliance Day'. Calling Utah a longtime friend that fought alongside the Republic of Korea during
By Diplomacy Journal Lee Kap-soo The Embassy of the People's Republic of China (PRC) in Seoul hosted a reception to celebrate the 75th anniversary of the founding of the People's Republic of China at the Shilla Hotel in Seoul on Sept. 26. The event commemorated the deep friendship and cooperation between China and the Republic of Korea, and was attended by more than 700 guests from all walks of life. “On October 1, 1949, the People's Republic of China was established, marking a new beginning for the Chinese people, ushering in a new era of independence, sovereignty, and progress, and following
By Diplomacy Journal Kayla Lee Minister of Foreign Affairs Cho Tae-yul, who attended the 79th session of the United Nations General Assembly, held a 45-minute meeting with Wang Yi, a member of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China (CPC) and Minister of Foreign Affairs, to exchange views on issues of mutual interest, including China-ROK relations and the Korean Peninsula on Sept. 28. The two sides evaluated the high-level exchanges between China and Korea so far this year, and decided to continue high-level exchanges at multilateral meetings in the second half of this year, incl