 
								
				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
 
								
				By Diplomacy Journal Lee Kap-soo U.S. Senators Tammy Duckworth and Andy Kim, currently visiting Korea, held a roundtable on August 19 with three leading Korean shipbuilders—Hanwha Ocean, HD Hyundai, and Samsung Heavy Industries—as well as officials from Korea’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Ministry of National Defense, Defense Acquisition Program Administration and Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy. During the roundtable, Korean shipbuilders underscored both their strong commitment and proven capabilities to advance U.S.–Korea shipbuilding cooperation. At the same time, they emphasized th
 
								
				By Diplomacy Journal Lee Kap-soo President Lee Jae-myung met with Senators Tammy Duckworth and Andy Kim, who are visiting South Korea, and exchanged views on strengthening the ROK-US alliance, promoting ROK-US economic cooperation, and regional and international affairs on August 18. President Lee welcomed the visit of the U.S. Senate delegation and stated that the ROK-U.S. alliance is a blood alliance and that he intends to develop it into a “future-oriented comprehensive strategic alliance” not only in security but also in all areas, including the economy and advanced science and technology.
 
								
				By Diplomacy Journal Lee Kap-soo Foreign Minister Cho Hyun, who is on a bilateral visit to India, held his first South Korea-India Foreign Ministers' Meeting with Indian Foreign Minister Subrahmanyam Jaishankar in New Delhi on August 16 (local time) and exchanged views on high-level exchanges, practical cooperation, and regional issues. Minister Cho said that the South Korean government is promoting diplomatic diversification, including the continuation and development of the New Southern Policy, based on its vision of becoming a “globally responsible power that responds pragmatically to chang
 
								
				By Diplomacy Journal Lee Kap-soo Unification Minister Chung Dong-young met with Swedish Ambassador to South Korea Karl-Olof Andersson on August 11 and discussed ways for South Korea and Sweden to cooperate on the situation on the Korean Peninsula. Minister Chung outlined the South Korean government's North Korea and unification policy, which centers on the restoration of inter-Korean relations and peaceful coexistence on the Korean Peninsula. He also praised Sweden's long-standing role in peace and stability on the Korean Peninsula and emphasized, "Sweden's diplomatic network and trust assets
 
								
				By Diplomacy Journal Lee Kap-soo During the Korea-Vietnam Summit held on August 11, Pyeongtaek and Da Nang, key economic hubs of both countries, held a "Friendship Exchange Agreement Exchange Ceremony." Pyeongtaek and Da Nang previously signed a friendship exchange agreement in April, but this exchange was held again following Da Nang's elevation to a centrally-controlled city in July. The unusual inclusion of a local government exchange event at a summit is interpreted as a sign of the two countries' intention to expand the scope and depth of cooperation to include local governments. Indeed,
 
								
				By Diplomacy Journal Lee Kap-soo Following the Korea-Vietnam Summit, companies and organizations from both countries signed 52 Memoranda of Understanding (MOUs) to expand cooperation in industries, energy, and other sectors. The Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy announced on August 12 that it held the "Korea-Vietnam Business Forum" at the Lotte Hotel in Jung-gu, Seoul. The forum was attended by approximately 500 government officials, organizations, and businesspeople, including Vietnamese Party Secretary General To Lâm and Prime Minister Kim Min-seok. At the forum, 52 MOUs were signed bet
 
								
				Diplomacy Journal Lee Kap-soo The South Korea-U.S. summit will be held on August 25. The Presidential Office announced on Aug. 12, "President Lee Jae-myung will visit the U.S. from Aug. 24 to 26 at the invitation of U.S. President Donald Trump for the summit." If the summit is held on Aug. 25, President Lee will meet President Trump for the first time in 82 days since taking office. President Lee plans to hold a summit with President Trump and a working lunch. When asked whether President Lee's visit to the U.S. constitutes a state visit, the Presidential Office spokesperson Kang Yoo-jung stat
 
								
				By Diplomacy Journal Lee Kap-soo The Embassy of Ecuador in Korea held the Ecuadorian National Day reception on Aug. 8, 2025, marking the anniversary of the First Call for Independence, which occurred on August 10, 1809, a historic milestone that contributed to the formation of the Ecuadorian nation. Delivering a speech at the reception held at the Hotel Shilla in Seoul, Ambassador Patricio Esteban Troya Suárez of Ecuador to South Korea said, “Korea and Ecuador have maintained a strong relationship of friendship and cooperation that began in 1950 during the Korean War and was formalized on Octo
 
								
				By Diplomacy Journal Lee Kap-soo President Lee Jae-myung held a summit with General Secretary of the Communist Party of Vietnam, To Lam, the top official in the Vietnamese government, at the Presidential Office in Yongsan on Aug. 11, 2025. The two leaders adopted the "Joint Statement on Deepening the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership between South Korea and Vietnam," which aims to foster future-oriented cooperation between the two countries. This marks the first visit by a Vietnamese leader to South Korea in 11 years, since 2014, and the first foreign guest and state guest since the new admi
 
								
				By Diplomacy Journal Lee Kap-soo The Daejeon Chamber of Commerce and Industry hosted a luncheon meeting with local businesspeople on Aug. 8 at the Yuseong Hotel Intercity, inviting Uzbek Ambassador to Korea Alisher Abdusalomov. The meeting began with a video introducing the investment environment between the Daejeon Chamber of Commerce and Industry and Uzbekistan, followed by a free discussion on cooperation opportunities between companies from both countries. In particular, discussions focused on potential cooperation in areas such as satellite production and services, water purification proj
 
												 
												 
												 
												 
												