By Diplomacy Journal Lee Kap-soo Seoul Mayor Oh Se-hoon met with Dai Bing, the new Ambassador of the People's Republic of China to the Republic of Korea, at Seoul City Hall on Jan. 9 to congratulate him on his appointment and share their views on bilateral exchanges and cooperation. Ambassador Dai Bing, who served as Deputy Head of Mission of China's Permanent Representation to the United Nations and was appointed Ambassador to the Republic of Korea on Dec. 27, is known for his good knowledge of international affairs. “When I visited Beijing and Chongqing last year for the first time in more t
By Diplomacy Journal Lee Kap-soo | The following article was contributed by Kobul Tursunov, Deputy Chairman of the Committee on budget and economic matters of the Senate of the Oliy Majlis of the Republic of Uzbekistan, to Diplomacy Journal for publication through the Embassy of Uzbekistan in Seoul. –Ed. The Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) are a set of global goals adopted by the United Nations in 2015 and intended to be achieved by 2030. They are part of the UN General Assembly resolution “2030 Agenda”, calling for a common action in achieving peace and well-being for humanity and the pl
By Diplomacy Journal Lee Kap-soo In a recent interview to Ana Tili (Mother Tongue) newspaper, President Tokayev of Kazakhstan shares his perspectives on the activities in the past year and sets goals for 2025. The following article was contributed by the Embassy of Kazakhstan in Seoul to Diplomacy Journal for publication. — Ed. Major Outcomes of 2024 Last year was marked by many important events, and a great deal of work was accomplished. For example, engineering and communal infrastructure across all regions underwent modernization after having fallen into a deplorable state. A total of 18 mi
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 Kap-soo A special exhibition will be held to strengthen cultural ties between South Korea and Uzbekistan in the new year of 2025. The 52nd International Cultural Exchange Exhibition will be held from March 5 to 11 on the second floor of the Insa-dong Museum of Korean Art in Seoul, marking the 33rd anniversary of diplomatic relations between the two countries. The international event was organized in consultation with Uzbekistan's Ambassador to Korea Alisher Abdusalomov and Diplomatic Journal Chairman Lee Jon-young. The exhibition will be a magnificent cultural exchange
By Diplomacy Journal Kayla Lee The 2025 “Diplomacy and Reunification K-Folk Painting Exhibition” will be held from March 12 to 18 at the Korea Museum of Art, Insa-dong in Seoul. The K-Folk Painting Exhibition is co-hosted by the Diplomacy Journal and the K-Folk Painting Research Center, co-organized by the Korea Masters Association and the monthly K-Folk Painting, and sponsored by the Damwha Cultural Foundation. The event is designed to pray for peace and reunification of the Korean Peninsula through art and to recognize the status of Korean culture on the global diplomatic stage. In particula
By Diplomacy Journal Lee Kap-soo The following article was contributed by the Embassy of Morocco in Seoul to Diplomacy Journal for publication. –Ed. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Regional Integration of the Republic of Ghana has officially addressed on January 7 a document to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, African Cooperation and Moroccan Expatriates of the Kingdom of Morocco, informing of its the decision to suspend diplomatic relations with the so-called “sadr” entity. The timing of this decision is particularly significant, coinciding with the inauguration of Ghana's new President,
By Diplomacy Journal Lee Kap-soo “Uzbekistan, the heart of Central Asia and a key crossroads of the Silk Road, is swiftly becoming a must-visit destination for travelers worldwide, including Korean tourists,” said Amb. Alisher Abdusalomov of Uzbekistan to South Korea. In an exclusive interview with Diplomacy Journal, Amb. Abdusalomov said, “Boasting a rich history, breathtaking architecture, and a vibrant cultural heritage, Uzbekistan offers a distinctive blend of experiences that enchant and inspire.” Noting that every year, Uzbekistan is visited by 40 thousand Korean tourists, he said, “Uzbe
By Diplomacy Journal Lee Kap-soo Choi Sang-mok, Acting President and Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Strategy and Finance, met with U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken, who is visiting South Korea on Jan. 6, and said, “Let's continue to maintain a diplomatic and security framework based on the strong ROK-US alliance and trilateral cooperation.” “As a friend of South Korea, the United States has full confidence in the strength of South Korea's democracy and the leadership of Acting President Choi,” Blinken said. The Ministry of Strategy and Finance said Choi and Blinken met earlier in
By Diplomacy Journal Kayla Lee Amid ongoing political turmoil in South Korea, including rallies for and against the impeachment of President Yoon Suk-yeol following the imposition of martial law on Dec. 3, the Chinese Embassy in Seoul has issued a warning to its nationals in South Korea not to participate in political events. The South China Morning Post (SCMP) reported on Jan. 5 that the embassy had issued a notice to Chinese nationals in South Korea the day before, asking them to avoid political activities related to the rallies. According to the report, the Chinese Embassy in South Korea po
By Diplomacy Journal Lee Kap-soo Vietnam Airlines will launch a new direct route between Busan and Nha Trang on June 1, 2025, with seven flights per week. This is in response to the growing demand for travel to Vietnam. According to the Korea Tourism Organization, from January to November 2024, 4.13 million out of 25.97 million Korean overseas tourists visited Vietnam, making it one of the most preferred overseas destinations for Koreans. New route schedule The non-stop route from Busan Gimhae International Airport to Nha Trang's Cam Ranh International Airport will be operated by Airbus A321 a
By Diplomacy Journal Lee Kap-soo The “Korea+Sweden Young Design Award (KSYDA),” a contest aiming to discover and nurture emerging Korean designers and foster design exchange between Korea and Sweden, marks its 5th round. Co-hosted by IKEA Korea, the Embassy of Sweden in Seoul, and the Korea Institute of Design Promotion (KIDP), the contest was launched in 2019 to celebrate the 60th anniversary of diplomatic relations between the Republic of Korea and Sweden and has since become a key platform for collaboration and innovation. The Korea+Sweden Young Design Award is grounded in three core values
By Diplomacy Journal Kayla Lee Former State Department Special Representative for North Korea Affairs Joseph Yun (71) will serve as interim chargé d'affaires to replace outgoing U.S. Ambassador Philip Goldberg at the end of his term, the Korean vernacular daily Chosun Ilbo reported on Jan. 6. The U.S. government is said to have decided that it is urgent to maintain a stable high-level communication channel between the U.S. and South Korea as the uncertainty of the impeachment situation grows after the Dec. 3 emergency martial law. According to the report, President Biden has decided to send Yu
By Diplomacy Journal Kayla Lee Cuba has appointed its first ambassador to South Korea, 11 months after the two countries established diplomatic relations. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA) said on July 7 that a ceremony was held at the Government Complex in Seoul, attended by Acting President Choi Sang-mok, to enact the credentials of ambassadors to South Korea, including the Cuban ambassador. Acting President Choi Sang-mok accepted Letters of Credence from nine Ambassadors-Designate to the Republic of Korea at the Government Complex Seoul on Jan. 7, 2025. The nine Ambassadors-Designate ar
By Diplomacy Journal Kayla Lee National Assembly Speaker Woo Won-sik met with Indian Ambassador to Korea Amit Kumar on Jan. 9 and asked him to “spread the word of Korea's stability to the Indian people, businessmen and diplomats who are investing in Korea.” “I am aware of the international community's concern about the emergency martial law situation, but our people have a strong DNA of overcoming crises, including colonization, war, division, and dictatorship,” Woo said when he met with Kumar at the National Assembly earlier in the day. “Together in the G20, Korea and India are very important