By Diplomacy Journal Lee Jon-young The following article was contributed by Choi Keong-ju, a professor of Keimyung University (Ph.D) and advisor of Korea-Saudi Friendship Association, to Diplomacy Journal for publication.—Ed. Saudi Arabia's Vision 2030 is a comprehensive strategy for the kingdom to diversify its economy and achieve social reforms as it moves away from its oil-dependent economy. The plan was announced by Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman in April 2016 and provides a blueprint for the Kingdom's long-term economic and social development. Its main objectives are as follows. Firstly
By Diplomacy Journal Lee Kap-soo “Tajikistan stands ready for strengthening mutually beneficial cooperation with the Republic of Korea in such areas as hydropower, textile, light, chemical and food industries, mining and processing of mineral ore and rare metals, mechanical engineering, pharmaceuticals, agriculture, transport and tourism,” said Ambassador of the Republic of Tajikistan to the Republic of Korea Salohiddin Kirom on March 14. In an exclusive interview with Diplomacy Journal held at the Embassy of Tajikistan in Hannan-dong, Seoul, Amb. Salohiddin Kirom said, “Tajikistan is open to
By Diplomacy Journal Lee Kap-soo Eo Seong-cheol, president of Hanwha Ocean’s Special Ship Division, met with Ambassador Tanee Sangrat of Thailand to Korea, on March 10 to discuss closer cooperation for the development of the country's maritime security and shipbuilding industry, Hanwha Ocean announced. Ambassador Tanee, who was appointed to the post in April last year, visited Hanwha Ocean for the first official exchange. Hanwha Ocean presented to Ambassador Tanee its long-term vision to enhance the competitiveness of Thailand's shipbuilding industry and expand collaboration with local shipyar
By Diplomacy Journal Kayla Lee Minister of Foreign Affairs Cho Tae-yul hosted an Iftar Dinner to celebrate the holy month of Ramadan, inviting various guests from the business, academic, media, and cultural communities, including diplomatic corps of Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) member countries on March 11. Iftar, which means “break fast,” refers to the first meal after sunset at the end of the daily fast during Ramadan, and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs has been organizing Iftar events since 2004 to promote mutual friendship and cooperation with the Islamic world. Speaking at t
By Diplomacy Journal Lee Kap-soo “Lithuania is a global leader in laser technology, with its companies supplying precision laser systems used in medicine, industry, and scientific research worldwide,” said Amb. H.E. Ricardas Slepavicius of the Republic of Lithuania on March 6. In an exclusive interview with Diplomacy Journal held at the Embassy of the Republic of Lithuania in Jongno-gu, Seoul, Amb. Slepavicius said, “Among the three Baltic countries, Lithuania stands as South Korea's largest trading partner. Korean investors are particularly drawn to Lithuania’s rapidly growing biopharmaceutic
By Diplomacy Journal Kayla Lee The 2025 Diplomatic and Reunification K-Folk Painting Contest, featuring works that reinterpret symbols and motifs from traditional folk paintings with modern colors and designs, was held at the Korea Art Museum in Insa-dong, Seoul, organized by the monthly K-Folk Painting and the Korea Masters Association. The exhibition is on display until March 17, and has attracted great interest and response due to the high quality of the works submitted. The contest was organized under the theme of 'K-Folk Paintings, Coloring the Global Community' to showcase the beauty of
By Diplomacy Journal Lee Kap-soo SK bioscience, a global innovative vaccine and biotech company committed to promoting human health from prevention to cure, announced on March 12 that the company has begun shipping its self-developed influenza vaccine, SKYCellflu, from its vaccine manufacturing facility L HOUSE to Southern Hemisphere markets, including Southeast Asia and Latin America. A total of 750,000 doses will be supplied in the first half of the year. This shipment marks the company’s second export of influenza vaccines for Southern Hemisphere use, following its initial export to Thailan
By Diplomacy Journal Kayla Lee Foreign Minister Cho Tae-yul met with Emmanuel Bonne, Head of the Foreign Affairs Office of the French Presidential Office, in Paris, France, and held the Fifth Korea-France Foreign Ministers' Strategic Dialogue with French Foreign Minister Jean Noel Barrot on March 7. During the meeting, Minister Cho exchanged views on ▲ recent domestic developments, ▲ high-level exchanges between Korea and France, ▲ trends in strengthening security in Europe and France's contribution after the new U.S. administration, ▲ France's role and contribution to the 2026 chairmanship of
By Diplomacy Journal Lee Kap-soo HDC Group Chairman Chung Mong-kyu met with Chinese Ambassador to Korea Dai Bing to discuss strengthening friendly cooperation on March 5. Chairman Chung, along with HDC CEO Kim Hoe-un and HDC Hyundai Engineering & Construction CEO Jung Kyung-gu, met with Ambassador Dai Bing at the Chinese Embassy in Jung-gu, Seoul, on March 5 to highlight HDC Group's relationship with China and discuss future cooperation. Chairman Chung briefed Ambassador Dai Bing on HDC Group's business and investment in China, and discussed closer exchanges and cooperation in various fiel
By Diplomacy Journal Kayla Lee The Seoul Foreign Resident Center, established by the Seoul Metropolitan Government and managed by the non-profit Migrant Center Friends, will join hands with the Embassy of Mongolia to strengthen support for Mongolians living in Seoul. The Seoul Foreign Resident Center signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with the Embassy of Mongolia in Korea on March 10 to share information and hold educational and cultural events to support the stable stay of Mongolians in Korea and improve their quality of life. Under the agreement, the center will expand its Mongolian
By Diplomacy Journal Lee Kap-soo Samsung Electronics is working with NVIDIA to advance AI-RAN technologies, the company said on March 12. The collaboration underscores Samsung’s commitment to fostering a robust ecosystem and diversifying the computing platforms available. This endeavor aims to support a smooth and easy adoption of AI in mobile networks by expanding the ecosystem of Central Processing Unit (CPU) and bolstering partnerships with Graphics Processing Unit (GPU) companies. To maximize and bring the power of AI into Radio Access Networks (RAN), Samsung has made significant technolog
By Diplomacy Journal Kayla Lee Vice Minister of Foreign Affairs Kim Hong Kyun held a working luncheon with the European Union (EU) Ambassadors to Korea on Feb. 28. As this year marks the 15th anniversary of the establishment of the Strategic Partnership between Korea and the EU, Vice Minister Kim stressed that Korea and the EU are seeking joint responses to global security challenges by adopting the ROK-EU Security and Defense Partnership last year, while also expanding cooperation across various fields, including advanced technology, the defense industry, and energy. He also voiced expectatio
By Diplomacy Journal Lee Kap-soo The Women In koRea (WIR: ‘We’ in German) women leadership group of the Korean-German Chamber of Commerce and Industry (KGCCI) successfully launched the seventh edition of its annual mentorship program on March 7, in celebration of International Women’s Day. The event served as dynamic platform to celebrate and reflect on the growing influence of women leaders across various sectors, while reinforcing the collective efforts to accelerate women’s empowerment in leadership roles. Since its launch in 2018, the WIR Mentorship Program has connected over 250 women pro
By Diplomacy Journal Lee Jon-young Cooperation between Korea and Spain in the field of intellectual property, including policies to support SMEs, will be accelerated. The outcome of the meeting will also be used to renew the Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) on comprehensive cooperation in the field of intellectual property. Korean Intellectual Property Office (KIPO) Commissioner Kim Wan-ki held a bilateral meeting with Elisa Rodríguez Ortiz, head of the Spanish Patent and Trademark Office (SPTO), in Madrid, Spain, on March 6 to exchange views on major issues in the field of intellectual prope
By Diplomacy Journal Lee Kap-soo Incheon Metropolitan City Mayor Yoo Jeong-bok received Charge d'Affaires Mohammed Mustafa Juma Almuntafeky of the Republic of Iraq to the Republic of Korea, at City Hall on March 11 and discussed cooperation. The meeting was held at the request of the Embassy of the Republic of Iraq in Seoul, and the two sides discussed ways to expand economic exchanges and mutual development between Incheon and major Iraqi cities. “Iraq is a resource-rich country with the world's fourth-largest crude oil reserves, and Incheon is home to Korea's leading free economic zone,” sai