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
Diplomacy Journal David Kendall | Today, one of the priority areas of state policy in Uzbekistan is focused on expanding forested areas, increasing green coverage, mitigating the negative impacts of climate change, and ensuring environmental sustainability. To achieve effective results in these areas, studying advanced foreign experience and adapting it to the country’s climatic conditions is of particular importance. In this context, the participation of a delegation of representatives of the Forestry Agency under the National Committee on Ecology and Climate Change of Uzbekistan in a trainin
Diplomacy Journal David Kendall | The Teachers' International Education Cooperation Society (TIES) visited Uzbekistan's Fergana region from January 12 to 16 to conduct practical exchanges with local educational institutions. The aim is a new model of international education cooperation led directly by teachers, going beyond simple overseas training. TIES is an international education cooperation network centered on pre-service, in-service, and retired teachers that has continued global citizenship education and education development cooperation activities in Nepal, Indonesia, Laos, Thailand, a
Diplomacy Journal David Kendall | One of the most tragic, yet dignified, pages in the modern history of the Republic of Azerbaijan occurred on January 20, 1990. Known as National Mourning Day, it commemorates the victims of the brutal military intervention carried out by the Soviet army against the civilian population in the capital Baku and other parts of the country. As a result of this ruthless aggression, 150 civilians were killed, 744 people were seriously injured, and four individuals went missing. The events of January 20, often referred to as “Black January,” were aimed at suppressing
Diplomacy Journal reporter Lee Gilju | South Korea is increasingly positioning youth and digital culture at the core of its public diplomacy strategy, as demonstrated at the 2025 KOREAZ Content Awards Ceremony held on December 23 at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Seoul. Korea Showcases Youth-Led Digital Public Diplomacy at 2025 KOREAZ AwardsSouth Korea is increasingly positioning youth and digital culture at the core of its public diplomacy strategy, as demonstrated at the 2025 KOREAZ Content Awards Ceremony held on December 23 at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Seoul. Kim Jina, Second
By Diplomacy Journal Kayla Lee Measles deaths have dropped by 88 per cent since 2000 – yet an estimated 95,000 people, mostly children, still died from the virus last year, the UN World Health Organization (WHO) warned on Nov. 28. Officials said global outbreaks are accelerating as millions of children remain under-immunized following years of COVID-19 pandemic-related disruption, according to the UN News. “Measles remains one of the most contagious respiratory viruses,” said Dr. Kate O’Brien, WHO’s Director of Immunization, Vaccines and Biologicals. “One person can infect up to 18 others. Man
By Diplomacy Journal Kayla Lee The final participating teams of the '2025 Korea-Africa Startup Competition' visited Nairobi, Kenya, for a week-long local bootcamp from November 7 to 14, the Korea-Africa Foundation said. During the bootcamp, the teams visited various relevant organizations, including Kenyan unicorn startup M-Pesa, fintech startup Pezesha, the Kenya Export Promotion and Branding Agency (a government organization), and Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology. This provided an opportunity to deepen their understanding of the Kenyan business ecosystem and explore mar
By Diplomacy Journal Kayla Lee The “EU Food Market & Networking” event was held under the sponsorship of the European Union (EU) on November 25 at the Floating Island Convention Hall on Sebitseom in Banpo, Seoul. Under the slogan of “Colours by Europe, Tastes of Excellence,” the event brought together experts from Korea’s food and beverage industry as well as media representatives to explore the quality and appeal of European agri-food products and discuss future cooperation opportunities. The event began with opening remarks by Kim Mi-kyung, Trade Officer at the EU Delegation to Korea, fo
By Diplomacy Journal Lee Kap-soo The Embassy of France in Seoul hosted the 2025 Regional Meeting of French Ambassadors in East Asia on Nov. 20. The Embassy had the honor and pleasure of welcoming French Ambassadors from twelve countries in the region, as well as several senior officials from the Ministry, for two days of discussions on political, economic, and technological issues in the region. This was also an opportunity to reflect on the Ministry's transformation and the managerial experiences of each participant, and to meet with Korean diplomats and researchers. Sunday also included a to
By Diplomacy Journal Lee Kap-soo “Korea–Central Asia Cooperation Forum on AI Talent Development” was held at the National Assembly of Korea on Nov. 19, organized by the Korea Foundation for Science and Creativity (KOSAC) in cooperation with the Secretariat of the Central Asia–Republic of Korea Cooperation Forum (CARK). The event brought together members of the National Assembly Hong Ki-won and Kim Gun, experts, leading scholars, and representatives of the Embassies of Central Asian countries. In his opening remarks, KOSAC President Jung Woo Sung emphasized the importance of the forum as a plat
By Diplomacy Journal Lee Gil-ju The Governments of Australia, Belgium, Canada, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, India, Italy, Japan, Norway, the Republic of Korea, Sweden, the United Kingdom, the United States of America, and the European Commission convened the Minerals Security Partnership (MSP) Principals’ Meeting in Brussels, Belgium on November 18, 2025, on the margins of EU Raw Materials Week. The Principals’ Meeting brought together senior officials to advance joint efforts to build secure, resilient, and sustainable critical minerals supply chains, which are essential for advanced in
By Diplomacy Journal Lee Kap-soo The Sultanate of Oman will mark its Glorious National Day, commemorating the Al Busaidi State Foundation Day on November 20 each year. This historic occasion embodies the patriotic spirit of this blessed nation's people as they advance with renewed determination to build their homeland under the leadership of His Majesty Sultan Haitham bin Tarik, the Embassy of Oman in Seoul said. The profound pride of the nation's Monarch in the people of Oman reflects the deep unity between the Leader and his loyal citizens. This national cohesion represents a fundamental ele
By Diplomacy Journal Lee Jon-young President Lee Jae-myung, on a Middle East and Africa tour, held a dinner meeting with Korean compatriots in Abu Dhabi on Nov. 17 (local time) to encourage Korean nationals in the United Arab Emirates (UAE). Approximately 150 people attended this meeting, including representatives of compatriot organizations, businesspeople, members of the Advisory Council for Democratic Peaceful Reunification, Korean language school officials, cultural and artistic figures, and employees of international organizations. Jang Kwang-deok, President of the Korean Association in t
By Diplomacy Journal Lee Kap-soo At a press conference held at the Embassy of Guatemala in Seoul on Nov. 13, Guatemalan Ambassador to Korea Sara Solis highlighted the excellence of Guatemalan coffee and expressed hopes of attracting more Korean tourists to experience the country’s rich culture and natural beauty. The ambassador emphasized that Guatemalan coffee, grown in volcanic soil at high altitudes above 1,500 meters, offers a rich aroma and balanced acidity that perfectly suit Korean tastes. “Koreans have a deep appreciation for quality coffee, and we believe Guatemala’s beans can bring t
By Diplomacy Journal Lee Kap-soo Ambassador of Kazakhstan Nurgali Arystanov held a meeting with Mr. Ban Ki-moon, the 8th Secretary-General of the United Nations and Chairman of the Global Green Growth Institute (GGGI), on the margins of Global Green Growth Week 2025. During the meeting, the parties exchanged views on the prospects for cooperation in the field of green development. Ambassador Arystanov expressed his appreciation to Mr. Ban for his significant contribution to strengthening bilateral cooperation, including through active participation in events organized by Kazakhstan. In this co