By Diplomacy Journal Lee Kap-soo Foreign card spending in the country in the second quarter of the year broke a record high thanks to the popularity of Korean content, Korea.net reported on Aug. 28.. The Bank of Korea on Aug. 26 released data saying domestic card use by non-residents rose 38.2% from the first quarter to USD 3.79 billion (KRW 5.28 trillion). The previous record was USD 3.38 billion in the fourth quarter last year. The ratio of card use in the country by non-residents to overseas card spending by residents was also 69%, the highest since the fourth quarter of 2016. Domestic medi
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 Sept. 2 that it has submitted an IND (Investigational New Drug application) to the Ministry of Food and Drug Safety for a global Phase 3 clinical trial of SKYVaricella to add the 2-dose (two-shot) indication, aligning with evolving international standards that increasingly recommend two doses to provide stronger, longer-lasting protection against varicella. The trial will evaluate the immunogenicity and safety of two doses in
By Diplomacy Journal Lee Kap-soo LG Electronics (LG) is ushering in a new era in the European smart home appliance market with the introduction of its groundbreaking AI platform, LG ThinQ AI. Taking center stage at the company’s IFA 2025 exhibit, LG ThinQ AI integrates the ThinQ UP and ThinQ Care services to provide a personalized, ever-evolving customer experience along with proactive appliance management. This innovative platform advances LG’s core product technologies through AI and usage data analysis, optimizing the product experience and enhancing customers’ overall quality of life. LG w
By Diplomacy Journal Kayla Lee POSCO Group, South Korea’s global leader in steel production, and India’s leading steelmaker JSW Steel have signed a non-binding Heads of Agreement (HoA) on August 18 to jointly explore setting up a 6 million tonnes per annum (MTPA) integrated steel plant in India. The agreement marks a significant step toward deepening strategic collaboration between two of the world’s most respected steel companies. This HoA builds on the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signed by both parties in October 2024 and outlines the broad framework for the proposed 50:50 joint ventur
By Diplomacy Journal Lee Kap-soo Executive Vice Chairman Chung Kisun met with TerraPower leadership, including chairman and founder Bill Gates in Seoul, Korea, HD Hyundai announced on August 22. The group reviewed progress on supply chain expansion and the commercialization of Natrium reactors, as well as discussed future cooperation opportunities. The meeting between the company leaders marked a first reunion in five months since initial talks in the United States last March. During the previous meeting, HD Hyundai and TerraPower signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) to expand the global
By Diplomacy Journal Lee Kap-soo Seoul-based global consulting firm Korever Company (CEO Rahil Ahmadova) announced the signing of a strategic partnership agreement with Medicana Health Group, Türkiye’s largest private healthcare provider, on August 28, 2025. The agreement was concluded jointly with Eventi Venti (CEO Ece Sandalli), Korever Company’s local partner in Türkiye. Through this partnership, Korever Company will prioritize linking advanced medical technologies and solutions from Korea and Asia with Medicana’s hospital network, while pursuing collaborative initiatives such as joint rese
By Diplomacy Journal Lee Kap-soo HS Hyosung awarded scholarships to four students in Huntsville, Madison, and Decatur, Alabama, who are preparing to enter university, on August 16 (local time). Through its U.S. subsidiary, HS Hyosung USA, the company collaborated with the Korean-American community in northern Alabama to provide scholarships as part of a Liberation Day commemorative event. Recipients were selected from among outstanding local students who face financial difficulties, are children of public servants such as firefighters and police officers, or are direct descendants of Korean Wa
By Diplomacy Journal Lee Kap-soo Hyundai Motor Group demonstrated its global hydrogen leadership at the 16th Clean Energy Ministerial (CEM16) held in Busan, reinforcing the Group’s commitment to advancing hydrogen innovation on an international stage. During CEM16, the Group actively participated in two high-level dialogues, sharing perspectives on industrial decarbonization, energy efficiency and the role of hydrogen as a future energy source. By engaging with global leaders, including ministerial delegations from member countries and key representatives from international organizations, the
By Diplomacy Journal Lee Kap-soo The appliance innovation legacy of Samsung Electronics extends from microwave ovens with TVs and talking refrigerators to IoT-enabled refrigerators. These appliances have steadily evolved into today’s Bespoke AI lineup — products that understand users and provide personalized solutions. Under the theme “AI Home: Future Living, Now,” Samsung will present an advanced AI Home experience1 at IFA 2025, Europe’s largest home appliance exhibition, taking place in Berlin from September 5-9. As the event draws nearer, Samsung Newsroom is taking a closer look at the comp
By Diplomacy Journal Lee Kap-soo The Korean-German Chamber of Commerce and Industry (KGCCI, President & CEO Marie Antonia von Schönburg), in cooperation with the Gwangju Free Economic Zone Authority, held the KGCCI Half-Year Economic Outlook 2025 on August 28 at the Four Seasons Hotel. The event, organized to provide exclusive insights into the developments of Korean-German business relations in these challenging times, drew the participation of more than 80 key officials, business leaders and experts from Korean and German companies and institutions. Speakers included Joern Beissert, Depu
By Diplomacy Journal Kayla Lee The American Chamber of Commerce in Korea signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) on Aug. 26 with PTC to accelerate smart manufacturing innovation and promote the wider adoption of U.S.-developed industrial technologies in Korea, as part of AMCHAM’s ongoing “Buy America” campaign. The signing ceremony, held at the Conrad Seoul Hotel, was attended by James Heller, Deputy Chief of Mission at the U.S. Embassy in Seoul. His presence underscored the strategic significance of the partnership in deepening bilateral economic cooperation through digital transformation
By Diplomacy Journal Lee Kap-soo HD Korea Shipbuilding & Offshore Engineering (HD KSOE) announced on Aug. 27 that it is pursuing restructuring of its shipbuilding business to enhance global competitiveness and expand orders in Korea’s shipbuilding and defense sectors, as the MASGA project is set to go into full swing. On the 27th, HD KSOE, HD Hyundai Heavy Industries (HHI), and HD Hyundai Mipo (HMD) each held board meetings, where HHI and HMD approved a merger agenda. Following an extraordinary general meeting and merger review process, the two companies will relaunch this December as the
By Diplomacy Journal Lee Kap-soo “Chhattisgarh is the growth engine of central India and the Indian state offers friendly environment to Korean investors,” said Honorable Chief Minister of Chhattisgarh, Mr. Vishnu Deo Sai, at an investment seminar. Chhattisgarh is the 9th largest state of India with 135,000 square meters. The Indian Chamber of Commerce in Korea (ICCK) held the event, titled Chhattisgarh Investor Connect in Seoul” on August 27, 2025 at Lotte Hotel, jointly organized by the Government of Chhattisgarh (a provincial government in India) and the Embassy of India, Seoul. Chief Minis
By Diplomacy Journal Lee Kap-soo Samsung Electronics today announced it will be unveiling its latest laundry innovations at IFA 2025 in Berlin, including the new Bespoke AI Washer with A-65% energy efficiency and the second-generation Bespoke AI Laundry Combo. These new models demonstrate Samsung’s ongoing commitment to delivering energy savings, intelligent features and stylish designs that align with the evolving needs of users around the world. “With the new A-65% washer, Samsung has pushed the boundaries of convenience and energy efficiency once again,” said Jeong Seung Moon, EVP and Head
By Diplomacy Journal Lee Jon-young President Lee Jae-myung attended the ‘Korea-U.S. Business Roundtable- Manufacturing Renaissance Partnership’ held at a hotel in Washington D.C., U.S., on August 25 (local time), the Presidential Office announced. Held to coincide with President Lee's first visit to the U.S., the event was attended by 16 prominent Korean business leaders with significant cooperative ties to the U.S. across various sectors. They included Ryu Jin, Chairman of the Korea Economic Association; Lee Jae-yong, Chairman of Samsung Electronics; Chey Tae-won, Chairman of SK; Chung Eui-su