By Diplomacy Journal Lee Kap-soo Hyundai Motor Company and General Motors announced plans for their first five co-developed vehicles on Aug. 6, marking a significant milestone in their previously announced strategic collaboration. The two companies will co-develop four vehicles for the Central and South American market, including a compact SUV, car and pick-up, as well as a mid-size pick-up, all with the flexibility to use either internal combustion or hybrid propulsion systems. Hyundai and GM also will co-develop an electric commercial van for North America. Hyundai and GM expect sales of the
By Diplomacy Journal Lee Kap-soo Korean Air has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (TA) with Anduril, a US defense company, to establish partnerships in the unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) sector in Korea and the Asia-Pacific region. The signing ceremony took place at the Four Seasons Hotel in Jongno-gu, Seoul. Key officials from both companies, including Lim Jin-gyu, head of Korean Air's Aerospace Division, and Palmer Luckey, founder of Anduril, attended the event. Anduril signed partnerships with major Korean defense companies at the official launch of its Korean branch, hosted by the US Dep
By Diplomacy Journal Lee Kap-soo Gyeongju City, North Gyeongsang Province, hosted a meeting with David Roden, the Gyeongsangbuk-do Investment Promotion Ambassador, in the External Relations Office of City Hall on Aug. 6, 2025. The meeting was organized to expand global investment and strengthen the Korea-US business network, the city announced. The event was attended by Gyeongju City Vice Mayor Song Ho-jun, Director of the Corporate Investment Support Division Son Dae-gi, and officials from the Gyeongsangbuk-do Investment Promotion Team. Vice Mayor Song stated, "I express my gratitude to Ambas
By Diplomacy Journal Lee Kap-soo Ambassador Amit Kumar of India to Korea visited Gimhae City and had lunch with Gimhae Mayor Hong Tae-yong, reaffirming the special bond between Gimhae and India. Ambassador Amit Kumar expressed his affection for Gimhae, which he considers his hometown, and expressed his commitment to further revitalizing exchanges between the two countries. Mayor Hong expressed his gratitude for Ambassador Amit Kumar's deep interest in Gimhae and the various cooperative projects he has pursued during his term. Ambassador Amit Kumar also expressed his special affection, describi
By Diplomacy Journal Lee Kap-soo General Secretary of the Communist Party of Vietnam Central Committee To Lam will make a four-day, three-night state visit to South Korea starting on Aug. 10. This will be the first visit by a foreign leader to South Korea since the inauguration of the Lee Jae-myung administration. Presidential Spokesperson Kang Yoo-jung announced on Aug. 7, "Through the summit and state dinner on Aug. 11, President Lee plans to hold in-depth discussions with General Secretary Lam on politics, security, trade, and investment, as well as future strategic areas such as national i
By Diplomacy Journal Lee Kap-soo President Jeong Yong-gi of Korea District Heating Corporation (KDHC) met with Uzbek Ambassador to Korea Alisher Abdusalomov at KDHC headquarters on Aug. 4 to discuss the progress for advancement of K-Heating into Uzbek market and ways to expand cooperation in the energy sector. In June of last year, the leaders of Korea and Uzbekistan signed the "Uzbekistan District Heating Modernization Project Agreement," which aims to upgrade Uzbekistan's aging district heating facilities to a Korean-style K-Heating system based on combined heat and power plants. KDHC Presid
By Diplomacy Journal Lee Kap-soo Indian Ambassador to Korea Amit Kumar and his delegation visited Miryang city in South Gyeongsang Province on Aug. 4 to promote exchanges between Korea and India, the Miryang City said. Imsennaro Walling, Director of the Indian Cultural Center in Korea, also accompanied the visit and discussed broad-ranging cultural exchanges. At a luncheon meeting held at Oyeonjeong in Gyodong, the two sides discussed various Korea-India exchange initiatives, including co-hosting a yoga event between Miryang City and the Embassy of India in Korea; promoting cultural, tourism,
By Diplomacy Journal Lee Kap-soo Vice Minister of Oceans and Fisheries Kim Sung-beom met with Ambassador of the European Union (EU) to Korea Maria Castillo Fernandez in the Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries (MOF) conference room on Aug. 4, 2025. During this meeting, the two sides shared their positions on mid-term measures to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, a key agenda item in the international shipping sector, and discussed ways to cooperate in establishing green shipping routes. The International Maritime Organization (IMO) plans to adopt mid-term measures to reduce greenhouse gas emissions
By Diplomacy Journal Lee Kap-soo Seminar on “Digitalization for the Education” for Tajikistani teachers, organized by the Sejong Education office, kicked off in Sejong city on August 4, 2025. This initiative marks a significant milestone in the educational partnership between the Republic of Korea and the Republic of Tajikistan, one that holds great promise for the future of digital education in Tajikistan. It is worth underlining that the President of the Republic of Tajikistan, H.E. Mr. Emomali Rahmon has consistently shown strong support for digitalization as a key driver of the Tajikistan'
By Diplomacy Journal Lee Kap-soo Chairman Kang Ho-dong of the National Agricultural Cooperative Federation (NACF) met with Vietnam's Fatherland Front Central Committee Chairman Do Van Chien at the NACF headquarters in Jung-gu, Seoul, on July 31 and discussed ways for mutual development in the agricultural sectors of both countries. This meeting with Chairman Do Van Chien, who is visiting Korea at the invitation of the Korea Foundation, was held to strengthen the strategic partnership between NACF and Vietnam. Chairman Do Van Chien stated, "I deeply appreciate NACF's long-standing partnership w
By Diplomacy Journal Lee Kap-soo Cho Hyun-sang, vice chairman of HS Hyosung and chair of the APEC Business Advisory Council (ABAC), met with Vietnamese President Luong Cuong on July 15 in Haiphong to discuss enhancing economic exchange between Korea and Vietnam and ensuring the successful hosting of the upcoming APEC Summit. During the meeting, CHO expressed gratitude to President Luong Cuong for Vietnam’s vital role as the host of the third ABAC meeting. He also delivered an official APEC invitation, requesting the President to serve as a keynote speaker at the APEC CEO Summit scheduled for t
By Diplomacy Journal Lee Kap-soo Minister of Unification Chung Dong-young met with U.S. Interim Ambassador to Korea Joseph Yun on Aug. 1, 2025. This meeting is drawing attention as interest in the possibility of a summit between US President Donald Trump and North Korean leader Kim Jong-un has grown. Minister Chung met with Yun for the first time since taking office at the Seoul Government Complex that afternoon. He stated, "From our perspective, I believe the remaining three years and six months of President Donald Trump's term are a very important time in history." He added, "I would like to
By Diplomacy Journal Lee Kap-soo The American Chamber of Commerce in Korea hosted an AMCHAM Insightsevent on July 22, featuring South Korean Prime Minister Kim Min-seok at the Conrad Seoul. Examining the theme “Navigating the New Administration: Business Roles in a Changing Policy Landscape,” the event brought together approximately 140 participants, including key figures from government, industry, and academia. Attendees engaged in in-depth discussions on the policy direction of the Lee Jae-myung administration and the potential impact of U.S.-Korea economic cooperation on the business enviro
By Diplomacy Journal Lee Kap-soo In their first meeting since the inauguration of the Lee Jae-myung administration, the foreign ministers of South Korea and the United States affirmed their shared goal of North Korea's complete denuclearization and agreed to strengthen trilateral cooperation among South Korea, the United States, and Japan on July 31, 2025 (local time). They also agreed to further strengthen the ROK-US alliance and modernize it to enhance its strategic importance amidst the changing security environment in the region. Minister of Foreign Affairs Cho Hyun met with Secretary of S
By Diplomacy Journal Lee Kap-soo The Embassy of Morocco in Seoul hosted a reception to celebrate the 26th anniversary of the accession of His Majesty the King Mohammed VI to the Throne, commemorated as the National Day of the Kingdom of Morocco, at the Ambassador Seoul Pullman Hotel in Seoul, on July 30, 2025. Moroccans celebrate the Throne Day on July 30 - an opportunity to proudly honor the proactive, insightful, and forward-looking Vision of His Majesty King Mohammed VI, who has transformed the Kingdom into an emerging, modern, and prosperous nation. Throne Day marks a powerful moment of un