By Diplomacy Journal Lee Jon-young 湖月撈影 湖月撈影 "Trying to catch the moon in the lake." 湖水無塵映月明 "The lake is clear without dust, shining brightly in the moonlight" 輕波一掬碎光生 ""When the calm waves rise, a shattered light is seen." 虛浮難取縈手裏 "A floating shadow is hard to catch, and it drifts in my hand." 空勞夢影滿江聲 "Empty labor is all that remains, and the river is filled with the shadows of dreams." This poem expresses a sense of vain desire and futility through the contents, "I try to catch the moon reflected in the lake, but I can't." The lake is clear, and the moonlight is clear. But the object of des
By Diplomacy Journal Lee Jon-young The lunar new year has dawned, but the world is still in upheaval. Looking at the recent signs of economic, political, and natural disasters, we can intuit that 2025 is not going to be an ordinary year. This year, Damhwa would like to predict the flow of global changes at Mount Inwang on the occasion of the Ipchun (the onset of spring) and consider the direction we should take together. First, the U.S. will be the only relatively robust growth engine in the world economy with the election of President Trump. Technological innovation, energy independence, and
By Diplomacy Journal Lee Jon-young In the ancient Chinese history book "Jwajeon 左傳," there is an old saying, “Sunmangchihan脣亡齒寒”. It translates to “Your teeth will freeze if you do not have lips,” and the lesson is that when one part of a tightly knit community breaks down, the others are jeopardized. It's not just a parable, but a reminder of the importance of community and the value of coexistence, which resonates deeply in modern society. Modern society is changing rapidly in the logic of technological advancement and competition. Individualism and independence are emphasized, and the phras
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By Diplomacy Journal Lee Jon-young History is the root of an individual's roots and the core of a nation's and people's identity. So when history is lost or distorted, it's not just about losing the past, it's about losing the present and the future. While the occupation of territory cannot transcend physical boundaries, the occupation of history shakes a people's memory, culture, and spirit to the core. It results in mental colonization and leaves lasting damage that transcends generations. When history is occupied, it destroys a nation's sense of identity and pride. For example, during Japan
By Diplomacy Journal Lee Jon-young Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky announced on Jan. 11 that Ukrainian forces captured two North Korean soldiers during fighting in Russia's Kursk region. Zelensky has said he is willing to release North Korean soldiers captured by Ukraine in the Kursk region of Russia in exchange for Ukrainian soldiers being held captive in Russia. Zelensky made the announcement on his telegram, saying that the North Korean soldiers were taken to Kyiv, where they are being questioned by the Ukrainian Security Service (SBU). Zelensky said that the captured North Korean so
By Diplomacy Journal Lee Jon-young From January 15 to 31, 2025, a solo exhibition by artist Kim Yong-mo will be held at 3AM Gallery in Yeonsu-gu, Incheon. The exhibition features works from Kim Yong-mo's representative series, “Life Story - Hwayangyeonhwa,” in which the artist uses natural colors found in nature to express the colorful moments of life. The artist uses mixed materials and bold borders to emphasize the boundaries of his works, conveying the energy of happiness and positivity through images of flowers and trees. The underlying texture of the work is emphasized by the use of mixed
By Diplomacy Journal Lee Jon-young Master Cheon Gong (real name Lee Cheon Gong) contributed an exclusive article in a conversation with Publisher Lee Jon-young of Diplomacy Journal about the leadership and vision of President Yoon Suk-yeol, who is facing impeachment, for the future of a free and prosperous Korea. – Ed. The following is the full text of his contribution. President Yoon Suk-yeol has had an extraordinary journey in the modern history of South Korea, practicing the values of principle and fairness, and has presented a vision of a nation centered on freedom and prosperity. A champi
By Diplomacy Journal Lee Jon-young As stated in Article 71 of the Constitution and Article 16 of the Government Organization Act, the prime minister assumes the presidency in situations where the president is removed from office or unable to perform his or her duties. This is an essential system to ensure the continuity of state operations. The acting president temporarily assumes the powers and duties of the president, but is not technically the president. The word “acting” makes this clear. However, beyond the temporary nature of the position, the acting president is the de facto president,
By Diplomacy Journal Kayla Lee The 2024 Jongno-gu Saemaul Leadership Convention was held at 2:00 p.m. on Dec. 23 at the Civil Defense Training Center at the Wellis Center in Jongno-gu, with more than 300 participants. The convention was a meaningful occasion to recall the core values of the Saemaul movement and share a new vision for community development. Major events and awards The event was organized in a colorful sequence, including the entry of Saemaul and the opening declaration, introduction of guests, award presentation, congratulatory remarks, and congratulatory speeches. In particula
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By Diplomacy Journal Lee Jon-young The white tiger painting is one of the four deities in traditional East Asian culture, and is a painting of a white tiger symbolizing the west. It depicts four sacred animals: the blue dragon, the jujak, the white tiger, and the hyeonmu, which represent the directions of east, west, south and north, as well as the five elements, the seasons, and various attributes of nature. Symbolism and characteristics of the white tiger The white tiger represents the west and symbolizes gold. In the Five Elements, gold represents hardness and strength, which is in line wit
By Diplomacy Journal Lee Jon-young The following article was contributed by Master Cheon Gong to the Diplomacy Journal for publication. –Ed. South Korea has a political system centered on a two-party system. The existence of small and medium-sized parties also includes elements of a multiparty system. The problem is that this political structure makes it difficult to reflect the diverse voices of the people and increases political polarization. We are now at a point where we need to consider whether this structure is suitable for the future. The current state of Korean politics and its limitat
By Diplomacy Journal Lee Jon-young In his fourth public address on Dec. 12, President Yoon Suk-yeol asserted that the “December 3 emergency martial law” was not a civil war, but a highly political judgment to protect the constitutional order of a liberal democracy. “Whether it's an investigation or impeachment, I will face it with dignity,” said President Yoon, making it clear that he has no intention of resigning or leaving office early. Yoon denounced the opposition parties' abuse of power as unconstitutional, while claiming his use of executive power was within the constitutional framework.
By Diplomacy Journal Lee Jon-young President Yoon Suk-yeol's declaration of martial law was a political decision made in the midst of a bitter confrontation with the largest opposition Democratic Party of Korea, and the legitimacy and controversy surrounding it have garnered much attention in South Korean politics and among the public. It is difficult to view this as a simple political party dispute. Martial law can only be declared in the event of a national crisis under the Constitution, and the debate over why the president declared martial law and its legitimacy has pitted the Democratic P