Choe Choong-dae | My particular interest in Thailand stems from fond memories of two remarkable Thai figures: Major General Chote Klongvicha, former Thai Ambassador to Korea, and Colonel Akaphol Somloop, a former Thai Defense Attaché at the Royal Thai Embassy in Seoul who later became Chief of Staff of the Royal Thai Armed Forces. Both men were stationed in Korea from the late 1960s to the early 1970s and were close friends of my family. I was just entering university when we met. Through their lives and service, I came to understand diplomacy not merely as statecraft, but as a profoundly huma
Samsung Electronics will distribute 1.3 trillion won in special dividends based on its fourth-quarter 2025 results. The move further strengthens the company's shareholder return policy in conjunction with the implementation of the separate taxation system for dividend income, and satisfies the government's requirements for listed companies that are designated "high-dividend" providers. Samsung Electronics announced through a disclosure on January 29 that "in accordance with our 2024–2026 shareholder return policy, we have decided on a Q4 special dividend in addition to our regular quarterly di
By Diplomacy Journal Kayla Lee | On the occasion of the 77th Republic Day of India, Ambassador Gourangalal DAS hosted a reception on January 26, 2026, at Sebitseom, the cluster of small man-made islands beside Seoul’s Banpo-daegyo Bridge. The event was graced by the guest of honor, H.E. Deputy Minister for Public Diplomacy, Mr. Lim Sang-woo, from Korea’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs. The celebration drew approximately 500 distinguished guests, including members of the National Assembly, various diplomatic missions, business leaders, and academia. Cultural figures and representatives from the In
Lee Jon-young | In 1992, a clear milestone was established when World Buddhist Peace Day was officially established and proclaimed. At the center of this historic declaration stood His Holiness Il-bung Seo Kyung-bo (一鵬 徐京保), First World Supreme Buddhist Leader. In the early 1990s, Cold War tensions had not fully dissipated; the world remained shaken by war, division, and inter-religious conflict. Supreme Leader Il-bung Seo Kyung-bo was keenly aware of the problems facing this era. He determined that Buddhism must no longer remain confined within the walls of temples and practice. His firm conv
In a new step to strengthen its presence in global tourism markets, the Sultanate of Oman, represented by the Ministry of Heritage and Tourism and in cooperation with the Embassy of the Sultanate of Oman in Seoul, hosted representatives from leading Korean travel agencies as part of an exceptional familiarization tour held from 15 to 22 January 2026. The tour provided representatives of Hana Tour, Mode Tour, Very Good Tour, MyRealTrip, and Yanatrip with a unique opportunity to discover the diversity of Oman’s tourism product, which combines cultural authenticity, stunning natural landscapes, a
Nigora Sultanova | In recent years, the deepening cooperation between Uzbekistan and Pakistan has emerged as a significant new strategic direction across Eurasia. Two countries standing at the historic crossroads of ancient trade routes are now consistently building a modern “architecture of connectivity” that permeates all key areas, including the economy, culture, education, and technology. Their shared centuries-old historical roots, dating back to the era of the Great Silk Road, are being transformed into concrete projects and initiatives capable of strengthening economic resilience, ensur
Diplomacy Journal Lee Jon-young | When someone wakes up at age 103, the day is normally a quiet one. A quiet day can still be productive; one such centenarian routinely reaches for a writing brush. Born in 1923, Master Nam Sang-jun has lived as a hyeokpil (leather brush) calligrapher for over 60 years since studying under Master Dong Ji-seong in 1961. The hyeokpil held in his fingertips is not limited to Hangeul. It embraces Chinese characters and even extends to the Roman letters of English. He teaches his disciples not just how to wield a leather brush when writing art, but also how to make
Diplomacy Journal shJung | The government is actively pursuing the supply of 18,000 large-scale public housing units in the Gangnam area. On February 2nd, the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport (Minister Kim Yoon-duk) designated and announced the Seoripul 1st Public Housing District (2,018,074㎡) in Wonji-dong, Sinwon-dong, Yeomgok-dong, and Naegok-dong in Seocho-gu, Seoul. The government announced plans to promote a plan to provide affordable public housing, focusing on providing affordable housing for future generations, including young adults and newlyweds, through a housing ladd
Diplomacy Journal David Kendall | The Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries (MOF) announced on January 29 that Korea’s 2025 seafood exports reached USD 3.33 billion (preliminary), representing a 9.7% increase from the previous year and the highest level on record. The top seafood export was once again gim (dried laver). According to the MOF, USD 1.13 billion worth of gim products was exported last year, a 13.7% increase year-on-year and a new all-time high. The Ministry added, “Gim has continuously strengthened its international competitiveness by developing a range of products tailored to overseas
The U.S. Embassy in Korea commemorated the 250th anniversary of American independence during an event designed to reflect on the history and values of the ROK-U.S. alliance and present a vision for the future of bilateral relations through cultural exchange. While the focus was on art, the importance that diplomacy, security, and trade play in maintaining the strategic ROK-U.S. alliance was also on display. The U.S. Embassy in Korea hosted the "Freedom of Expression: Freedom250 Korea-U.S. Creative Dialogue" event in Seoul on January 28 at the Seongbuk-dong residence of U.S. Chargé d'Affaires J
Diplomacy Journal shJung | The "Lee Kun-hee (KH) Collection," born from a donation by the late Samsung Chairman Lee Kun-hee, has successfully completed its first overseas tour, impressing the world with the prestige of Korean art and culture. Samsung held a gala dinner on the 28th (local time) at the Smithsonian's National Museum of Arts and Industry in Washington, D.C., ahead of the exhibition's closing. "Collecting, Cherishing, and Sharing Treasures of Korea," currently on display at the Smithsonian's National Museum of Asian Art (NMAA), is co-hosted by the National Museum of Korea and the N
Diplomacy Journal David Kendall | The UN Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK), Dr. Elizabeth Salmón, arrived in Seoul on February 2. The UN Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) announced her trip last month on January 28. The OHCHR said she is scheduled to stay until February 6 and will meet with government officials and civic groups, as well as victims of DPRK human rights abuses, their relatives, and North Korean escapees. On the first day of her third official trip to Seoul in this capacity, Dr. Salmón me
The Croatioan National Tourist Board (CNTB) announced on January 31 that T'way Air, a South Korea-based low-cost carrier, will resume direct flights between Incheon and Zagreb from July 2 through October 24, 2026. The flights will operate three times weekly (Tuesday, Thursday, Saturday). The 11-hour flight, priced around KRW 500,000 one-way, makes Croatia more accessible than ever to Korean travelers. "With both direct flights and diverse connecting routes through cities like Istanbul, Vienna, and Warsaw, access to Croatia has never been better," said Marko Jurčić, Korea Director of the CNTB.
The Heungsadan Support Center for Descendants of Independence Patriots (HSCDIP) announced the successful completion of its "2026 Overseas Independence Movement Historical Sites Tour." From January 26 to 30, high school and university students and other descendants of independence patriots visited Korean Provisional Government (KPG) and independence movement sites in China that date back to the 1910-1945 Japanese colonial period. This program was planned ahead of the 107th anniversary of the March 1st Movement and the establishment of the KPG to trace the footsteps of independence activists and