By Lee Kap-soo Unification Minister Kim Young-ho met with German Ambassador to South Korea Georg Schmidt on Oct. 18 and said, "I hope that the two countries, which are celebrating the 140th anniversary of diplomatic relations this year, will deepen mutual cooperation, including on reunification issues." The Unification Ministry said Kim made the remarks as he met with Schmidt at the government's Seoul office later in the day to share the recent achievements following his visit to Germany. Kim explained the South Korean government's policy direction, which focuses on denuclearizing North Korea,
By Kim Ji-eun Busan Mayor Park Hyung-joon met with Danish Ambassador to Korea Svend Olling at Busan City Hall on Oct. 19 to discuss exchanges and cooperation between Busan and Denmark in the fields of culture, arts, and renewable energy. Denmark is a constitutional monarchy comprising the Jutland peninsula on the North Sea coast of northern Europe and the islands off its eastern coast. It covers an area of 43,394 square kilometers and has a population of about 5 million, with the capital city of Copenhagen. The country is famous for its dairy industry and has developed food, steel, chemical, a
By Lee Jon-young President Yoon Suk-yeol visited Guinsa Temple, the headquarters of Cheontae Buddhism in Danyang, Chungcheongbuk-do, and prayed for the peace of the country and its people on Oct. 19. The people of Guinsa Temple welcomed the President with applause during his surprise visit, and the President expressed his gratitude for their welcome. The President paid a visit to the Great Hall of the Buddha, and then had lunch with venerable Buddhist monks, including Doyong, Deoksu and Seun. The squash soup, cabbage kimchi, stir-fried watercress, tofu pancake, lotus root fritters, and grapes
By Kayla Lee Chungcheongbuk-do (Chungbuk) and Vinh Phuc Province, Vietnam, celebrated the 10th anniversary of their sisterhood and 15th anniversary of their friendship at the Grand Plaza Hotel in Cheongju on Oct. 16. The event was attended by Chungcheongbuk-do Governor Kim Young-hwan and Vinh Phuc Provincial People's Committee Chairman, among others. Business exchanges were also held with companies from the province that have established a presence in Vietnam or wish to do so. The cooperation between the two provinces was initiated in 2008, when Vinh Phuc's Deputy Governor visited the province
By Lee Kap-soo Gyeonggi-do Governor Kim Dong-yeon met with Helen Clarkson, CEO of The Climate Group, to explain Gyeonggi-do's commitment to overcoming the climate crisis and becoming carbon neutral, and to propose international cooperation on Oct. 4. He also expressed his intention to join the Under2 Coalition, a global coalition of local governments on climate change policy, of which The Climate Group is the secretariat. During a meeting with Helen Clarkson, CEO of The Climate Group, at the Roh Moo-hyun Civic Center in Seoul, Gov. Kim Dong-yeon said, "Gyeonggi-do is the most proactive provinc
By Lee Jon-young President Yoon Suk-yeol hosted a dinner on Oct. 17 at the Cheong Wa Dae guesthouse with more than 90 people, including civilian and government members of the National Unity Committee (first and second terms), four leaders of the People Power Party, the presiding officers and secretaries of the National Assembly, and the secretary and chief of staff of the presidential office. The dinner was organized as a forum for informal communication and harmony among key members of the National Unity Committee, and to share the purpose, direction, and values of national unity among the Na
By Lee Jon-young Since taking office late last year, Daejeon Police Chief Chung Yong-geun has significantly increased the number of investigative officers to ensure that frontline officers are able to protect the safety of the public. Ahead of National Police Day, which falls on Oct. 21, the Diplomacy Journal had a special interview with him about his achievements, the nature of policing in Daejeon, and the recent reorganization of the police force. The following is the full-text of the special interview with Daejeon Police Chief Chung Yong-geun by Chairman-Publisher Lee Jon-young of Diplomacy
By Lee Kap-soo First Lady Kim Keon-hee visited Cheongju Zoo in Cheongju, Chungcheongbuk-do, South Korea, to inspect various facilities and activities to promote animal welfare and to encourage officials on Oct. 5.. In April, Kim visited the Chungnam Wildlife Rescue Center to learn about the rescue, treatment, and rehabilitation of wild animals, and heard the heartbreaking story of a male lion nicknamed the "rib lion" because he was unable to eat properly a few months ago. This inspired Madam Kim, wife of President Yoon Suk-yeol, to take a deeper interest in not only pets, but also wildlife and
By Lee Jon-young President Yoon Suk-yeol made a surprise visit to the National Hangeul Museum on the morning of October 5, ahead of the 577th Hangeul Day (October 9). The National Hangeul Museum opened on October 9, 2014, to promote the literary and cultural values of Hangeul, the nation's greatest cultural heritage, and is holding various events this week from October 4 to celebrate the 2023 Hangeul Week with the theme of "The Power of Hangeul to Tap the Future. In the front yard of the Hangeul Museum, children from Gwangmyeong City's Yebit Kindergarten and Hanam City's Myeongsung Daycare Cen
By Kayla Lee President Yoon Suk-yeol met with chairmen of overseas Korean organizations from around the world on Oct. 5 and said, "Establishing a network with our compatriots and creating the Overseas Korean Affairs Office to closely monitor you is in line with our government's philosophy of pursuing internationalism while solidifying our country's liberal democracy and market economy. We will expand the playing field for our 7.5 million compatriots to run together." President Yoon attended the World Congress of Chairmen of Overseas Korean Organizations and the 17th World Korean Day Ceremony a
By Lee Kap-soo President Yoon Suk-yeol attended the "71st anniversary of the founding of the Korean Veterans Association and the Total Security Resolution Conference of the Chairmen of Towns, Counties, and Villages" at the Olympic Hall in Jamsil Olympic Park on Oct. 4. The event was organized to commemorate the 71st anniversary of the founding of the Korean Veterans Association and to share examples of spreading public security awareness and revitalizing the organization of the ROK Armed Forces, and to strengthen the resolve of its members to defend the liberal democratic system and support th
By Lee Jon-young President Yoon Suk-yeol and First Lady Kim Keon-hee hosted a luncheon for more than 240 miners, nurses and nursing assistants who were dispatched to Germany in the 1960s and 1970s from Korea at the Walkerhill Hotel in Seoul on Oct. 4. This is the first time the President has hosted a luncheon exclusively for the dispatched workers, and the event reflects the President's belief that the Korean people should take care of their compatriots who have sacrificed themselves for their country. Prior to the luncheon, President and Mrs. Yoon viewed photos of the dispatched workers in Ge
By Kim Ji-eun President Yoon Suk-yeol visited the Eulji District of the Jungbu Police Station and the Jungbu Fire Station to encourage employees who are working tirelessly during the Chuseok holidays on the afternoon of Sept. 30. The President first visited Eulji District Station and held a meeting with officers in the field. The meeting was attended by about 10 employees of various ages, ranging from Eulji District Captain Ko Kwang-beom, who is set to retire at the end of the year, to Constable Park Moo-sung, who was appointed to the police force in December last year, and had a relaxed conve
By Lee Kap-soo President Yoon Suk-yeol and First Lady Kim Keon-hee attended a luncheon meeting for compatriots of the atomic bomb victims at the Presidential official residence on the afternoon of September 29, Chuseok, the second day of the six-day Chuseok holiday. As the president shook hands with compatriots, they stood up to greet him with loud applause. The President met with the atomic bomb survivors for the first time as a South Korean president in Hiroshima on the sidelines of the G7 Summit in May, and said he would invite them to South Korea in the near future, and he fulfilled that p
By Lee Jon-young On the afternoon of October 1, the 75th anniversary of the founding of the ROK Armed Forces and the 70th anniversary of the signing of the U.S.-ROK Mutual Defense Treaty, President Yoon Suk-yeol visited the Army's 25th Infantry Division on the front lines of the Western Front to inspect its robust military readiness and commend the soldiers for their efforts in vigilant operations. The President's visit included a report on military readiness from Maj. Gen. Choi Sung-jin, commander of the 25th Infantry Division, a tour of the GOP fence, and a meeting with soldiers. Upon his ar