By UN Journal Lee Kap-soo On May 14, 2024, within the framework of the celebration of the 300th anniversary of birth of the great Turkmen poet and thinker Magtymguly Fragi, the Embassy of Turkmenistan in the Republic of Korea held an international scientific conference and the exhibition in the Yongsan district Administration building of Seoul. During the conference, the speakers noted the consistent and fruitful development of cultural and humanitarian relations between Turkmenistan and the Republic of Korea. It was emphasized that the literary heritage of the classical poet Magtymguly Fragi,
UNJournal Jon Lee | Pinocchio sits on a green couch deep in the forest. He is gazing at the distant sky with a slight smile on his face. Perhaps he's remembering a pleasant memory. A soft melody seems to be coming from the speaker of a phonometer poking its head into the forest across the street. The whole forest is filled with a clean energy. Pinocchio looks like an adult. He looks childlike and wary. He enjoys the infinite delusions of his imagination with his delicate wings, which are not yet strong enough to fly. The messengers of his excitement are a couple of lovebirds. Healthy parakeet
By UN Journal Lee Kap-soo Oh Seung-rok, mayor of Nowon-gu, Seoul held a meeting with Ambassador of El Salvador to the Republic of Korea Jaime Lopez at cafe in Nowon-gu on May 9. El Salvador, which has a 100-year history of coffee, has natural conditions suitable for coffee cultivation, and in 1990, the coffee industry was fostered as a national key industry, and currently, about 12% of the entire country is composed of coffee farms. El Salvadoran coffee is characterized by its large beans, light weight, and a distinct blend of acidity and sweetness. Although the flavor varies from region to re
By UN Journal Lee Kap-soo “I urge the Government of Israel to stop any escalation, and engage constructively in the ongoing diplomatic talks,” said UN Secretary-General António Guterres to the press on May 7, the UN News reported. Saying that we are at a decisive moment for the Palestinian and Israeli people and for the fate of the entire region, he said “An agreement between the Government of Israel and the leadership of Hamas is essential to stop the unbearable suffering of Palestinians in Gaza and of the hostages and their families. “It would be tragic if weeks of intense diplomatic activit
UNJournal Jon Lee | GS E&C, Dongbu E&C, and Daebo E&C have received a one-year ban from bidding on public works projects from LH in connection with the collapse of the underground parking lot of an apartment building in Geomdan, Incheon, last year. GS E&C and Dongbu E&C announced on May 3 that they have been notified by LH that they have been banned from bidding on public works projects. As a result, the companies will not be able to participate in bidding for public works projects ordered by domestic public institutions for one year from May 22 this year to May 21 next yea
By UN Journal Kayla Lee The UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Türk urged Russia to end its crackdown on journalists in a statement issued on May 7 shortly after President Vladmir Putin began a fifth term in office., the UN News reported. Volker Türk said he was concerned by the increasing number of journalists charged, convicted and jailed for their independent reporting, in what appears to be an intensification of a crackdown on dissenting voices. He described the continuous attacks on free speech and the criminalization of independent journalism in Russia as “very troubling”. “The
By UN Journal Lee Kap-soo Gyeongbuk Governor Lee Cheol-woo met with Chinese Ambassador to Korea Xing Haiming on May 7 at the Gyeongbuk Provincial Office to discuss ways to cooperate on mutual growth. This is the first visit by Chinese Ambassador Xing Haiming to Gyeongbuk since his appointment in January 2020. Governor Lee and Ambassador Xing highlighted the 30 years of bilateral cooperation between China and Gyeongbuk, and agreed to expand new areas of shared growth beyond the economic sphere, such as cultural tourism. “In the 30 years of diplomatic relations between China and Gyeongbuk, the t
UNJournal Jon Lee | By Artist Kim Sona | As an alternative medical student, I remember being terrified when I entered the anatomy lab for the first time. In contrast to my trembling heart, I was greeted by a picture of the blue and clean landscape of Santorini on the wall of the anatomy room. My mind immediately relaxed, as if I were in one of the places in Santorini. So I was able to study the human body in a more relaxed state of mind while looking at cadavar. The painting I am trying to paint is the kind of painting that makes you feel relaxed just by looking at it. Regardless of whether we
By UN Journal Lee Kap-soo President of Kazakhstan Kassym-Jomart Tokayev has expressed his support for the upcoming negotiations between Azerbaijan and Armenia, which will take place in Almaty on May 1, 2024. The talks proposed by the Kazakh side and to be held at the Foreign Ministers' level aim to prepare a peace treaty between Azerbaijan and Armenia. The significance of Almaty as the meeting location cannot be understated. The historic Alma-Ata Declaration was signed in this city in December 1991, laying the foundation for the independent development of the Commonwealth of Independent States
UNJournal Jon Lee | In commemoration of the 75th anniversary of the Philippines-Korea diplomatic relations, a solo exhibition by the famous Filipino artist Lenore RS Lim was held from May 1 to 6 at Maru Art Center in Insa-dong Seoul. The solo exhibition, which was organized by the Embassy of the Philippines in Korea and supported by Diplomacy Journal, was held under the title of “Interwoven Horizons.” More than 100 guests, including H.E. Ambassador Carlos Penafiel of Mexico in Seoul and his spouse, Mrs. Regina Flores Chuzeville, and Baek Soo-mi, chairperson of Hansae Yes24 Foundation, particip
UNJournal Jon Lee | President Yoon Suk-yeol held a summit with Angolan President João Lourenço to exchange views on ways to promote practical cooperation between the two countries and the regional and international situation on April 30. The two leaders noted that friendly and cooperative ties have been steadily developing since the two countries established diplomatic relations in 1992, and noted that recent high-level exchanges at all levels, including a phone call between the leaders last November, have further enhanced bilateral relations. President Yoon expressed his appreciation to Presi
UNJournal Jon Lee | Foreign Minister Cho Tae-yul and Defense Minister Shin Won-sik held the 6th Korea-Australia Foreign Affairs and Defense (2+2) Ministerial Meeting with Australian Deputy Prime Minister and Defense Minister Richard Marles and Foreign Minister Penny Wong in Melbourne, Australia on May 1. They exchanged in-depth views on the Korean Peninsula and regional affairs. Following the meeting, the ministers held a joint press conference and adopted a joint statement as the outcome document of the meeting. This was the first 2+2 ministerial meeting held since the inauguration of the cur
UNJournal Jon Lee | Folk painting is a composite art, and the fact that all Korean crafts always have folk-like paintings on them allows us to speculate on the function of Korean folk paintings. In other words, folk paintings are not just decorations on celadon, white porcelain, cabinets, pencil cases, and many other crafts, but they are an important folk painting element without which a work of art would be lifeless. Folk paintings, which are the most obvious manifestation of the Korean people's sense of aesthetics and sculpture, have been one of the most important elements of Korean architec
By UN Journal Lee Kap-soo Foreign Minister Cho Tae-yul on April 26 met with Lithuanian Foreign Minister Gabrielius Landsbergis, who was in Korea to attend the opening ceremony of the Embassy of Lithuania in Seoul, and discussed ways to promote bilateral relations. Minister Cho said that the opening of the Lithuanian Embassy will be an important step in the development of bilateral relations, and asked Minister Landsbergis to pay special attention to Korea's plans to open an embassy in Lithuania. Minister Landesbergis said that he was opening a permanent mission given the importance of relation
By UN Journal Lee Kap-soo Speaker Yeom Jong-hyun of the Gyeonggi Provincial Assembly met with a delegation from the People's Committee of Dak Lak Province in Vietnam at the Assembly's Grand Hall on April 25. Chairman Yeom actively proposed a cooperation plan by proposing to hold an 'investment attraction briefing session' to the delegation of the Dak Lak Province People's Committee, which hopes to strengthen economic exchanges between the two regions. The meeting was attended by Chairman Yeom, Representative Oh Jun-hwan of the People's Power Party, Parliamentary Secretary Kim Jong-seok, and Vi