By Diplomacy Journal Lee Kap-soo HS Hyosung awarded scholarships to four students in Huntsville, Madison, and Decatur, Alabama, who are preparing to enter university, on August 16 (local time). Through its U.S. subsidiary, HS Hyosung USA, the company collaborated with the Korean-American community in northern Alabama to provide scholarships as part of a Liberation Day commemorative event. Recipients were selected from among outstanding local students who face financial difficulties, are children of public servants such as firefighters and police officers, or are direct descendants of Korean Wa
By Diplomacy Journal Lee Kap-soo Hyundai Motor Group demonstrated its global hydrogen leadership at the 16th Clean Energy Ministerial (CEM16) held in Busan, reinforcing the Group’s commitment to advancing hydrogen innovation on an international stage. During CEM16, the Group actively participated in two high-level dialogues, sharing perspectives on industrial decarbonization, energy efficiency and the role of hydrogen as a future energy source. By engaging with global leaders, including ministerial delegations from member countries and key representatives from international organizations, the
By Diplomacy Journal Lee Kap-soo The appliance innovation legacy of Samsung Electronics extends from microwave ovens with TVs and talking refrigerators to IoT-enabled refrigerators. These appliances have steadily evolved into today’s Bespoke AI lineup — products that understand users and provide personalized solutions. Under the theme “AI Home: Future Living, Now,” Samsung will present an advanced AI Home experience1 at IFA 2025, Europe’s largest home appliance exhibition, taking place in Berlin from September 5-9. As the event draws nearer, Samsung Newsroom is taking a closer look at the comp
By Diplomacy Journal Lee Kap-soo The Korean-German Chamber of Commerce and Industry (KGCCI, President & CEO Marie Antonia von Schönburg), in cooperation with the Gwangju Free Economic Zone Authority, held the KGCCI Half-Year Economic Outlook 2025 on August 28 at the Four Seasons Hotel. The event, organized to provide exclusive insights into the developments of Korean-German business relations in these challenging times, drew the participation of more than 80 key officials, business leaders and experts from Korean and German companies and institutions. Speakers included Joern Beissert, Depu
By Diplomacy Journal Lee Kap-soo President Lee Jae-myung had a telephone conversation with the President of the Republic of Tajikistan, Honorable Emomali Rahmon on August 28, 2025. At the beginning of the conversation, the President Rahmon once again congratulated Lee Jae-myung on his election to the high office of the President of the Republic of Korea. The two sides discussed the current state and prospects of bilateral and multilateral relations between the two countries. The parties focused on issues of their further development, including cooperation in the fields of digitalization, indus
By Diplomacy Journal Lee Kap-soo Defense Minister Ahn Gyu-back met with members of the US House of Representatives visiting Korea and emphasized the importance of strong congressional support for the development of the ROK-US Alliance. On the afternoon of August 14, Minister Ahn met with Representatives Richard McCormick and Beth Van Duyne of the US House of Representatives at the Defense Ministry in Yongsan-gu, Seoul, to discuss ways to further develop the ROK-US Alliance and address security circumstances on the Korean Peninsula. Minister Ahn stated, “As a member of the National Defense Comm
By Diplomacy Journal Lee Kap-soo HD Korea Shipbuilding & Offshore Engineering (HD KSOE) announced on Aug. 27 that it is pursuing restructuring of its shipbuilding business to enhance global competitiveness and expand orders in Korea’s shipbuilding and defense sectors, as the MASGA project is set to go into full swing. On the 27th, HD KSOE, HD Hyundai Heavy Industries (HHI), and HD Hyundai Mipo (HMD) each held board meetings, where HHI and HMD approved a merger agenda. Following an extraordinary general meeting and merger review process, the two companies will relaunch this December as the
By Diplomacy Journal Lee Kap-soo “Chhattisgarh is the growth engine of central India and the Indian state offers friendly environment to Korean investors,” said Honorable Chief Minister of Chhattisgarh, Mr. Vishnu Deo Sai, at an investment seminar. Chhattisgarh is the 9th largest state of India with 135,000 square meters. The Indian Chamber of Commerce in Korea (ICCK) held the event, titled Chhattisgarh Investor Connect in Seoul” on August 27, 2025 at Lotte Hotel, jointly organized by the Government of Chhattisgarh (a provincial government in India) and the Embassy of India, Seoul. Chief Minis
By Diplomacy Journal Lee Kap-soo Samsung Electronics today announced it will be unveiling its latest laundry innovations at IFA 2025 in Berlin, including the new Bespoke AI Washer with A-65% energy efficiency and the second-generation Bespoke AI Laundry Combo. These new models demonstrate Samsung’s ongoing commitment to delivering energy savings, intelligent features and stylish designs that align with the evolving needs of users around the world. “With the new A-65% washer, Samsung has pushed the boundaries of convenience and energy efficiency once again,” said Jeong Seung Moon, EVP and Head
By Diplomacy Journal Lee Kap-soo Unification Minister Jeong Dong-young met with Chinese Ambassador to South Korea Dai Bing at the Seoul Government Complex on August 27 and exchanged views on bilateral relations and Korean Peninsula issues, the Ministry of Unification announced. Minister Jeong urged Ambassador Dai to develop more mature bilateral relations, taking advantage of the upcoming APEC summit in Gyeongju. He specifically explained the South Korean government's policy framework for inter-Korean trust-building and peaceful coexistence on the Korean Peninsula, emphasizing China's construc
By Diplomacy Journal Lee Kap-soo On the occasion of the bicentenary of the declaration of independence of Uruguay, the Embassy of Uruguay in the Republic of Korea held a reception at Four Seasons Hotel Seoul on August 25. Delivering a speech at the gala reception, Ambassador Pablo Scheiner of Uruguay to Korea said, “In 2025, the Oriental Republic of Uruguay commemorates the 200th anniversary of its independence—a moment of profound national pride and reflection. It is an occasion to honor the women and men who shaped our nation, and to reaffirm the values that have defined our country over two
By Diplomacy Journal Lee Kap-soo | From August 5 to 8, 2025, the Third United Nations Conference on Landlocked Developing Countries (LLDC3) took place at the Awaza National Tourist Zone along the Caspian Sea in Turkmenistan. The Conference transformed this picturesque coastal destination into a vibrant hub of global diplomacy, as leaders from around the world gathered to chart a development path for the 32 landlocked developing countries (LLDCs). The opening ceremony, held on August 5, was a compelling display of international solidarity. His Excellency Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov, National Lead
By Diplomacy Journal Lee Kap-soo Minister of National Defense Ahn Gyu-back met with US Senator Tammy Duckworth at the Ministry of National Defense in Yongsan, Seoul, on August 18 and discussed the security situation on the Korean Peninsula and explored ways to further strengthen the ROK-US Alliance. Minister Ahn emphasized that strong support from the US Congress is essential to the continued development of the ROK-US Alliance. He also called for sustained congressional attention to further strengthen the combined defense posture and enhance extended deterrence. Minister Ahn expressed gratitud
By Diplomacy Journal Lee Kap-soo The Korean-German Chamber of Commerce and Industry (KGCCI, President & CEO Marie Antonia von Schönburg) will host “Guide Walkers” joint CSR event on September 7, 2025, at Sangam World Cup Park in Seoul, South Korea. Now in its third year, the initiative brings together nearly 700 colleagues and partners from KGCCI and its member companies who will serve as guide walkers for individuals with visual impairments at the 11th Harmony Marathon with Visually Impaired, organized by Seoul Disabled Sports Association. First launched in 2023 to commemorate 140 years o
By Diplomacy Journal Lee Kap-soo Korean artist Hur Yeon-hwa, who works across sculpture and painting, has built her practice around overcoming the physical constraints of space. Having majored in sculpture, she often grappled with the limits of doors, windows, and studios—an experience that led her to pursue the theme of fluidity, eventually developing installation works that dissolve boundaries. Water has become her central material. For Hur, its appeal lies in its shifting form—whether contained in vast seas or small aquariums—and in its refusal to be fixed or measured. She recalls her unive