By Diplomacy Journal Lee Jon-young A new direction for South Korea's cultural policy has been set. Rep. Kim Kyo-heung, a three-term senior politician from the Democratic Party (Incheon Seo-gu Gap), was elected as the chair of the 22nd National Assembly's Culture, Sports, and Tourism Committee at the National Assembly plenary session on June 27. Kim's election as chair is seen as more than just a personnel change, but as the establishment of new leadership for South Korea's cultural, tourism, and sports policies. Kim, who served as chairman of the Incheon University Student Council, led the May
By Diplomacy Journal Lee Jon-young In the art world, the title of ‘artist’ is not simply a job title or a nameplate. It is the result of public verification and a symbol of the trust that creators receive from the art world. In particular, the titles ‘recommended artist’ and ‘invited artist,’ which are commonly seen in exhibition halls, have functioned as symbolic language that goes beyond simple distinctions to encapsulate the creative journey and artistic position of the artist. However, in recent years, there has been an increasing number of cases where the mandatory step of being a recomme
By Diplomacy Journal Lee Jon-young President Lee Jae-myung talked with NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte by phone and exchanged opinions on ways to deepen the partnership between South Korea and NATO on July 3. Presidential spokesperson Kang Yu-jeong said in a briefing that day that this was the first time President Lee had spoken with Secretary General Rutte since taking office. Secretary General Rutte congratulated President Lee and expressed his regret at not being able to meet him at the NATO summit, but also expressed his gratitude for the South Korean government's firm commitment to coop
By Diplomacy Journal Lee Jon-young President Lee Jae-myung said at a press conference held on July 3, marking 30 days since his inauguration, “We are doing our best to achieve mutually beneficial and win-win results based on the principle of practical diplomacy centered on national interests in the Korea-U.S. trade negotiations, which is one of the most pressing issues.” He also said, “Based on the solid U.S.-Korea alliance, close U.S.-Korea-Japan cooperation, and the prompt improvement of relations with China and Russia, we will protect peace and the lives of our people through practical dipl
By Diplomacy Journal Lee Jon-young President Lee Jae-myung held his first phone call with New Zealand Prime Minister Christopher Luxon on the afternoon of July 1, and the two leaders exchanged views on ways to develop bilateral relations, according to a written briefing by Presidential spokesperson Kang Yu-jeong. President Lee said that New Zealand is a grateful ally that participated in the Korean War even before establishing diplomatic relations with South Korea in 1962, and that he hopes the two countries will continue to strengthen cooperation in various fields such as economy, defense and
By Diplomacy Journal Lee Jon-young President Lee Jae-myung held his first phone conversation with Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, President of the United Arab Emirates (UAE), on the afternoon of July 1, according to a written briefing by Presidential spokesperson Kang Yu-jeong. President Lee expressed gratitude for President Mohammed's congratulations on his inauguration and expressed hope that the two countries would work together to further strengthen the “special strategic partnership” between South Korea and the UAE, taking the opportunity of the new government's establishment. The two leade
By Diplomacy Journal Lee Jon-young President Lee Jae-myung had his first phone call with Singaporean Prime Minister Lawrence Wong at 11 a.m. on June 30, according to a written briefing by Presidential Spokesperson Kang Yu-jeong. During the call, Prime Minister Wong, who had sent a congratulatory message shortly after President Lee's inauguration, once again extended warm congratulations and expressed his expectations for the development of South Korea-Singapore relations and his willingness to cooperate during President Lee's term in office. In response, President Lee said, “I am pleased that
By Diplomacy Journal Lee Jon-young The research team led by Professor Kim Myung-ok of the Department of Life Sciences and Applied Life Sciences at Gyeongsang National University has developed the world's first next-generation epitope vaccine that can simultaneously prevent and treat Alzheimer's disease, attracting extraordinary attention. According to Gyeongsang National University on June 12, Professor Kim Myung-ok's research team has developed the world's first next-generation vaccine capable of both preventing and treating Alzheimer's disease. Professor Kim's team selected a portion of the
By Diplomacy Journal Lee Jon-young SK Group's so-called “V Project” has become the subject of simultaneous investigations by the National Tax Service (NTS), police, and prosecutors, facing unprecedented legal risks. The core of the investigation centers on allegations that SK Telecom entered into a contract with its IT subsidiary SK C&C (now SK Inc. C&C) for services that were never actually performed, then transferred funds. This is suspected to have been used to artificially inflate revenue, evade taxes, and as a means to reorganize the group's corporate structure. The NTS conducted
By Diplomacy Journal Lee Jon-young President Lee Jae-myung held a summit meeting with Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba on June 17 (local time) in Kananaskis, Canada, where the G7 summit is being held. The two leaders have focused their discussions on ways to promote development in both South Korea and Japan. In particular, they agreed to bolster three-way cooperation with the United States to respond to geopolitical crises, including North Korea. During the summit, Lee and Ishiba exchanged opinions on ways to maintain regional peace and stability and agreed that the two countries should
By Diplomacy Journal Lee Jon-young President Lee Jae-myung, who arrived in Canada to attend the G7 summit, held consecutive meetings with the South African president and Australian prime minister. President Lee Jae-myung held a summit meeting with South African President Cyril Ramaphosa at around 2:40 p.m. of June 16 (local time). South Africa was invited to the G7 summit as an observer country, along with South Korea, India, Australia, Brazil, Mexico, and Ukraine. President Lee then held a summit meeting with Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese at a hotel in Calgary, Canada, at around
By Diplomacy Journal Lee Jon-young President Lee Jae-myung's new administration has been launched with great momentum. In his inaugural address, Lee promised to be a government that protects the lives of the people, saying, “I will prioritize the livelihoods and economy of the people,” and clearly expressed his determination to unite the people by saying, “I will be the president of all the people.” This commitment can serve as a starting point for our society to come together again and paint a new hope for the future. Immediately after its launch, the new government will demonstrate its prese
By Diplomacy Journal Lee Jon-young President Lee Jae-myung spoke with Chinese President Xi Jinping by phone on June 10, 2025, China's state-run Xinhua news agency reported. Chinese President Xi Jinping emphasized a partnership for strategic cooperation during his first phone conversation with President Lee Jae-myung. This is the third time President Lee has held a phone conversation with a foreign leader since taking office, following conversations with US President Donald Trump on June 6 and Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba the day before. According to China's state-run Xinhua News Agen
Diplomacy Journal Lee Jon Young | Diplomatic Journal, May 2025, JPG, 외교저널 2025년 5월호 JPG 전체보기
By Diplomacy Journal Lee Jon-young The word ‘hero’ is often misunderstood. It's easy to think of them as someone who wields spectacular force or is cheered by the masses, but in reality, the word comes from the ancient Greek myth of the “half-god, half-man” and refers to people of exceptional courage and determination who acted for the good of humanity. In this regard, we should be able to clearly distinguish between a true hero and an arrogant person in power. True heroes often have the following “prayer of equanimity” as their life motto: "O God, I pray to you. “Oh, God, give me the equanimi