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Local From Policy to Practice: Korea Seminar Explores Basic Society Roadmap
On March 17, the Korea Research Institute for Local Administration (KRILA) held a policy seminar titled "The Role of the Government and Local Governments in Realizing a Basic Society" in the National Assembly Members' Office Building in Seoul. The seminar was organized to explore policy directions for guaranteeing the basic livelihoods of citizens amid sweeping structural changes in society — including the rise of AI, low birthrates, an aging population, regional depopulation, and growing polarization — and to discuss the division of roles and cooperation between the central government and loc
- David Kendall 기자
- 2026-03-19 14:42
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Local President Lee Visits Traditional Markets in Cheongju and Changwon, Pledges Support for Local Commerce
President Lee Jae Myung made back-to-back visits to traditional markets in two Korean cities on March 13 and 15, Cheong Wa Dae (CWD) announced over the weekend. The President reportedly stopped to check on consumer prices, hear from local merchants, and connect directly with citizens on the ground. On the afternoon of March 13, President Lee visited Sachang Market in Cheongju, North Chungcheong Province — a market with deep historical roots, its name tracing back to the Joseon-era granaries once kept on the site. Having taken on the character of a modern comprehensive market in the 1980s, Sach
- David Kendall 기자
- 2026-03-16 09:44
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Local Korea Imposes Maximum Prices on Petroleum Products Amid Middle East Supply Concerns
The Ministry of Trade, Industry and Resources (MOTIR) announced March 13 that the Korean government would introduce policy measures to curb the recent spike in domestic petroleum prices caused by developments in the Middle East and to limit sharp price swings in the event of a supply crisis. To that end, following consultations with relevant ministries, the government will implement a maximum price system on petroleum products. The maximum prices will apply to refiners' supply prices for gas stations and dealers, not retail prices at gas stations. Effective from 12:00 a.m. on March 13 through
- David Kendall 기자
- 2026-03-16 08:59
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Local First Lady Kim Hye Kyung Champions Education and Global Solidarity on World Women's Day
First Lady Kim Hye Kyung attended the "2026 World Women's Day Commemorative Sookmyung International Forum" held on the afternoon of March 11 at Sookmyung Women's University, joining ambassadors accredited to Korea, women leaders from home and abroad, and members of the university community in celebrating the occasion. The forum was organized under the theme "120 Years of Women's Education: Global Solidarity Toward Equality and a Sustainable Future," and provided a platform for discussing the role of women's education in advancing global equality, sustainability, and inclusive digital transform
- David Kendall 기자
- 2026-03-12 09:26
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Local Gyeonggi Governor Hopeful Pushes Back Against "Blackout Primary," Demands Policy Showdown
Yang Ki-dae, a preliminary candidate for Gyeonggi Province Governor representing the Democratic Party of Korea (DPK), strongly urged party leadership on the 9th to introduce policy debates among primary candidates along with a citizen jury system. At a press conference held March 9 at the Gyeonggi Provincial Assembly, Yang stated, "This primary election makes it difficult to find intense policy competition or forward-looking visions, and there is insufficient verification of which candidate has the capability to resolve Gyeonggi Province's most pressing challenges," adding, "This is precisely
- David Kendall 기자
- 2026-03-10 09:48
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Local Cheong Wa Dae Staff Ordered to Work on Public Holiday Amid Middle Easl Tensions
In light of the increasingly serious international situation, the Korean government ordered all staff assigned to the Office of the President at Cheong Wa Dae to report for regular duty on March 2, even though Monday was a designated holiday in Korea—the March 1st Movement anniversary falling on the previous Sunday. The stated purpose was to maintain an emergency response posture and ensure full preparedness. The directive was issued on Sunday evening, March 1, by Chief of Staff Kang Hoon-sik while President Lee Jae Myung was en route to his state visit to Singapore. Accordingly, Chief of Staf
- David Kendall 기자
- 2026-03-04 09:47
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Local KGCCI and KNCW Sign MOU to Advance Women's Leadership in Korea
The Korean-German Chamber of Commerce and Industry (KGCCI), the second-largest foreign chamber of commerce in Korea, announced on February 26 that its Women in Korea (WIR) program and the Korean National Council of Women (KNCW) signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) to strengthen cooperation in advancing women’s leadership and fostering inclusive professional networks. The agreement formalizes collaboration in areas that include women's leadership mentoring, joint initiatives, information exchange, and participation in flagship programs such as WIR and the 2026 Joint CSR "Harmony Marathon.
- David Kendall 기자
- 2026-02-27 09:52
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Local February 18-19 USFK Drills over Korea's West Sea Lead to Conflicting Accounts
Diplomacy Journal David Kendall | Multiple Korean news outlets are covering contradictory statements released by the offices of U.S. Forces Korea (USFK) Commander General Xavier Brunson and the Republic of Korea's Ministry of National Defense (MND). According to a February 25 Korea Times article, the controversy arose "from a large-scale U.S. Forces Korea (USFK) drill conducted Feb. 18 and 19 from Osan Air Base, during which U.S. fighter jets carried out more than 100 sorties over waters west of the Korean Peninsula. Chinese warplanes also scrambled in response, leading to a short aerial stand
- David Kendall 기자
- 2026-02-26 11:23
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Local Korea Bets on Human Capital for Its Carbon Neutrality Agenda
South Korea is quietly building one of Asia's most deliberate pipelines of PhD-level talent for its waste-to-energy and circular economy industries. A newly concluded government-backed training program offers a window into how seriously Seoul is taking the human capital dimension of its carbon neutrality commitments. According to a statement from the organizer, the Korea Association of Waste-to-Energy Technology (KAWET), the program was sponsored by the Ministry of Climate, Energy and Environment (MCEE) and hosted by the Sudokwon Landfill Site Management Corporation. The three-week program tar
- David Kendall 기자
- 2026-02-25 12:02
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Local Seoul Puts Youth Policy to the Test
The Seoul Metropolitan Youth Center (SMYC) has published six research reports verifying the effectiveness of Seoul's 2025 youth policies and presenting directions for future development. The research covers core youth policy agendas, including mental health support programs (2 reports), the Youth Stipend (1), youth policy delivery systems (1), issue research (1), and social impact measurement (1). In the first such social impact measurement conducted this year, Seoul Youth Centers were found to have generated approximately 108 billion won in social value through policy dissemination and connec
- David Kendall 기자
- 2026-02-10 14:37
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Local Korea Tackles Regional Extinction: Fund Managers Meet Local Leaders to Share Solutions
The Korea Local Finance Association (LOFA) and Chungcheongbuk-do Province held a discussion forum on February 6 at the Chungbuk Research Institute to assess progress made through “Local Extinction Response Fund” projects and address current challenges. The forum was attended by LOFA Chairman Jeong Seon Yong and officials responsible for population decline initiatives across Chungcheongbuk-do Province. Following presentations of outstanding local government achievements, LOFA's Regional Vitality Support Team explained the evaluation framework for the 2027 fund investment plan and gathered feedb
- David Kendall 기자
- 2026-02-10 13:57
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Local Wonju-based Public Institutions Donate Time and Food to Local Community
The Korea Research Institute for Local Administration (KRILA) and Korea Veterans Health Service (KVHS) chose February 4 to deliver food and other goods to marginalized Wonju residents in two separate acts. Both public institutions are based in the Gangwon-do Province city, about 130-km southeast of Seoul. The KVHS normally provides “medical care, rehabilitation, and welfare services to persons of distinguished service to the state,” according to its website, but 10 days before the start of this year’s five-day Lunar New Year (Seollal) holiday, its Director, Yun Jong-jin, and employees opted to
- David Kendall 기자
- 2026-02-05 10:17
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Local Korean Students Retrace Independence Fighters' Footsteps in China
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
- David Kendall 기자
- 2026-02-04 10:57
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Local Gim Carries K-Seafood Exports to Record High
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
- David Kendall 기자
- 2026-02-02 16:34
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Local 'Proclamation Establishing World Buddhist Peace Day’
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
- David Kendall 기자
- 2026-01-29 16:24
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[Special Report] Thailand’s US$580 Million Asset Freeze Case Raises Concerns for Korean Investors
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The 29th World Peace Art Exhibition slated to open grandly
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The President of Kazakhstan signed the Constitutional Law of the Republic of Kazakhstan “On the Special Legal Regime of Alatau City”
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An exclusive report, a witness turned into a suspect
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Urbanization Processes in Uzbekistan: Legal Foundations, New Mechanisms, and Development Strategy
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Uzbekistan and the OTS: New Horizons for Investment Cooperation and Priority Projects
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2026-05-19 12:53
President of Kazakhstan Outlines Digital Development Priorities for the Turkic World at the Informal OTS Summit in Turkistan
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2026-05-18 20:39
Seoul's Yeouido Park Hosts Inaugural 'India Day 2026,' Celebrating Six Decades of Korea-India Cultural Ties
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2026-05-18 16:36
Uzbekistan and the OTS: New Horizons for Investment Cooperation and Priority Projects
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2026-05-18 16:31
Urbanization Processes in Uzbekistan: Legal Foundations, New Mechanisms, and Development Strategy
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2026-05-16 01:41
[Special Report] Thailand’s US$580 Million Asset Freeze Case Raises Concerns for Korean Investors
Address: Doosan We've Pavilion 1203, Sambong-ro 81, Jongno-gu, Seoul
Date of first registration: Founded in 1996 as UN News, changed its name to The Diplomatic Journal in 2009
Registration No.: Jongno Ra00125/ Registration Date: 2009-04-14/ Registration Number: Seoul 아54606 / Registration Date: Dec. 13, 2022
Publisher: Damwha Media Group Chairman Lee Jon-young
Editor in Chief: Lee Jon-young/ Vice Chairman: Chung Bo-won/ Standing Advisor Lee Keon-chan / Senior Editorial Writer Ko Jae-hwe / Editorial Writer Lee Se-hoon / Cultural Editor Lee Joon-seok/ Political Editor Lim Han-choong/ U.S. Branch Head Kim Joon-bae/ Business Editor Kayla Lee
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UPDATE: 2026년 05월 19일 12시 53분