By UN Journal Lee Kap-soo Busan City Mayor Park Hyung-jun announced on Feb. 22 that he met with French Ambassador to Korea Philippe Bertoux at the International Conference Room of City Hall on the 23rd to discuss cooperation plans for Busan-France interaction. Ambassador Philippe Berthoux said, "The French Embassy in Korea will be able to play a bridge role in the interaction between Busan and France." "We expect to cooperate with Busan in various fields such as culture and tourism, cultural contents such as movies and videos, cultural facilities such as art museums, economic trade, and mariti
By UN Journal Lee Kap-soo Global governance in its present form is entrenching divisions and fuelling discontent, UN Secretary-General António Guterres told world leaders attending the Munich Security Conference in Germany on Feb. 16, the UN News reported. “Our world is facing existential challenges, but the global community is more fragmented and divided than at any time during the past 75 years,” he said, highlighting the need for “a global order that works for everyone”. Mr. Guterres said if countries fulfilled their obligations under the UN Charter, every person on Earth would live in peac
By UN Journal Lee Kap-soo Ambassador of Kazakhstan to South Korea, Nurgali Arystanov, met with Mayor of Busan, Park Heong-joon in Busan on Feb. 16, 2024. During the meeting, the Ambassador emphasized Kazakhstan's special relationship with Busan, noting the presence of the Consulate General of Kazakhstan and the signing of the Agreement on Friendship and Cooperation between Almaty and Busan. In this regard, the Kazakh diplomat invited the Mayor of Busan to visit Almaty this year. In turn, the Mayor of Busan accepted the invitation with gratitude expressed an interest in expanding bilateral coop
By UN Journal Lee Kap-soo Minister of Foreign Affairs Cho Tae-yul held a meeting with Koo Cha-yol, Chairman of the Korea International Trade Association (KITA) on February 13, to discuss ways to enhance the responsiveness and vitality of Korean businesses in the face of a rapidly changing and uncertain global landscape. This is the fifth engagement with business associations since Minister Cho took office. Minister Cho participated in the New year event hosted by the innovative venture industry (January 19) and met with leaders of the Federation of Korean Industries (FKI, January 22), Korea Ch
By UN Journal Lee Kap-soo Kim Eun-mee, the President of Ewha Womans University, has been appointed as a National Goodwill Ambassador for UN Women in the Republic of Korea, the UN Women announced on Feb. 5. Kim has been a trailblazer in the field of international development studies, dedicating her research efforts to advancing gender equality and the empowerment of women and girls. During her tenure as a professor at various prestigious institutions, including the University of Southern California, Brown University, Harvard University, and Ewha Womans University, she has paid special attention
By UN Journal Lee Kap-soo Choi Jeong-woo, chairman of POSCO Group, recently met with Australian Minister for Resources Madeleine King to discuss the eco-friendly future business cooperation that POSCO Group is promoting in Australia. According to POSCO on Feb. 5, Minister Madeleine King visited the POSCO Center in Gangnam-gu, Seoul, on Jan. 31 and exchanged views with Chairman Choi on the business areas of steel, clean hydrogen and secondary battery materials. At the meeting, Choi said, "The areas of cooperation between POSCO Group and Australia for the common goal of carbon neutrality are div
By UN Journal Lee Kap-soo Tajikistan's Ambassador to Korea Kirom Salohiddin and his delegation met with Gyeongbuk Governor Lee Chul-woo on Jan. 30 to discuss the expansion of friendly exchanges between Gyeongbuk Province and Tajikistan. Lee Ok-ryun, president of the Korea-Central Asia Friendship Association, also attended the meeting. Tajikistan is a country in Central Asia that gained independence from the Soviet Union in 1991 and is a member of the Commonwealth of Independent States (C.I.S.). Although 93% of the country is mountainous, it has shown competitiveness in agriculture and textiles
By UN Journal Lee Kap-soo The following article was contributed by Akmal Saidov, academician, doctor of legal sciences, Member of the Union of Writers of Uzbekistan, to the Dipl;omacy Journal for publication via the Embassy of Uzbekistan in Korea.—Ed. "...(Alisher's) titles were written like this: "The guide, the highest point of honor and respect, the head of religion and statesmen, the strength of the leaders of the country and nation, the initiator of good deeds, the developer of charity institutions, the pillar of the kingdom, the ruler of kings Amir Alisher, the leader, the hope and trust
By UN Journal Lee Kap-soo The Seoul Gyeonggi North Construction Branch of the Korea Construction Workers' Union (KCWU) held a press conference on Jan. 23 in front of the GS headquarters in Jongno, Seoul to condemn GS E&C (Engineering & Construction)'s shoddy and poor construction. At the same time, at the Dignity Xi apartment site in Yangpyeong-dong, Yeongdeungpo-gu, Seoul, they condemned GS E&C for conducting concrete pouring work in the middle of a snowstorm, saying that it was doing so to save costs, even though there was a risk that it would lead to poor construction. According
By Lee Kap-soo In accordance with its domestic and national development objectives, Türkiye is just hours away from embarking on its maiden space mission. Getting ready for the mission as part of Türkiye's National Space Programme led by President Erdoğan, the country is locked on 19.01.2024 at 00.49 a.m. With the Dragon spacecraft, Türkiye will send its first astronaut, Alper Gezeravcı, to the International Space Station at 00:49 a.m. on the night of January 18 to January 19. Space travel is one of the technologies that Türkiye aspires to develop in the field of science and technology, and th
By UN Journal Lee Kap-soo UN Secretary-General António Guterres on Dec. 11 urged a deal at COP28 on the phaseout of fossil fuels, telling negotiators that “now is the time for maximum ambition and maximum flexibility,” as UN climate talks in Dubai head into the home stretch. As COP28 entered its final 48 hours, the UN chief delivered a clear message to government negotiators: “We must conclude the conference with an ambitious outcome that demonstrates decisive action and a credible plan to keep 1.5-degree goal alive, protecting those on the frontlines of the climate crisis.” Negotiators are en
By UN Journal Lee Kap-soo 10 December 2023 marks the 75th anniversary of one of the world's most groundbreaking global pledges: the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR). This landmark document enshrines the inalienable rights that everyone is entitled to as a human being - regardless of race, colour, religion, sex, language, political or other opinion, national or social origin, property, birth or other status. The Declaration was proclaimed by the United Nations General Assembly in Paris on 10 December 1948 and sets out, for the first time, fundamental human rights to be universally p
By UN Journal Lee Kap-soo UN agencies issued an urgent call for international action on Dec. 10 to end the ongoing attacks on hospitals, as Israeli forces battle Palestinian militants in the heart of the Gaza Strip. The regional directors of the UN sexual and reproductive health agency (UNFPA), children’s agency UNICEF and health agency WHO, said they were “horrified” at latest reports which indicate many have been killed – including children – in facilities across Gaza city and other northern areas of the Strip. The Palestinian Red Crescent Society is reporting that the second largest hospita
By UN Journal Lee Kap-soo Amid ongoing bombardment in the Gaza Strip, UN agencies and humanitarian partners continue to provide desperately needed food, water, healthcare and other services to the more than two million people living there. This Thursday (Dec. 7) marks two months since conflict erupted after Hamas militants stormed southern Israel, killing some 1,200 people and seizing more than 200 hostages, prompting Israel to launch a massive military operation in Gaza. Martin Griffiths, UN Humanitarian Coordinator and head of its emergency relief office, OCHA, on Thursday upheld the commitm
By Lee Kap-soo “Cambodia is one of the best investment destinations due to its open economy, competitive incentives. Our new investment law was also introduced and within eight months of 2023, Cambodia approved 125 investment projects with the investment of some $1.74 billion and creating 153,997 jobs,” said H.E Amb. Chring Botumrangsay of Cambodia to Korea on Nov. 2. Delivering welcoming remarks on the occasion of the 70th Independence Day of Cambodia and the 26th anniversary of Cambodia-ROK diplomatic relations held at Conrad Hotel Seoul, Amb. Chring said, “In terms of trade, Cambodia's expo