UNJournal By Kayla Lee | On December 8, Minister of Foreign Affairs Park Jin had a meeting with Minister of Foreign Affairs of Mexico Alicia Bárcena Ibarra, who was on a visit to Korea from December 7 to 10. In the meeting, the two sides discussed Korea-Mexico relations, substantive cooperation and cooperation on the international stage. The Korea-Mexico Foreign Ministers’ meeting came merely about one month after the one held on the sidelines of the Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Summit in San Francisco on November 15. Foreign Minister Bárcena was visiting Korea for consultations with the Korean government and companies for an early securement of emergency recovery supplies in the wake of Hurricane Otis that hit Acapulco, Mexico, in late October. Foreign Minister Park once again extended consolation over the damage from the hurricane. Citing the Mexican proverb that “Desgracia compartida, menos sentida (Two in distress makes sorrow less),” the Foreign Minister stated that Korea will cooperate closely for Mexico’s prompt securement of recovery supplies. Foreign Minister Bárcena responded by conveying deep appreciation. Foreign Minister Park brought attention to the fact that Mexico, with which Korea marked the 60th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations last year, is the first Latin American country with which Korea has forged strategic partnership. He went on to note with appreciation that close cooperative ties between the two countries are continuing to develop on the basis of their long-standing friendship demonstrated by many young Mexicans having joined efforts to safeguard liberal democracy of Korea during the Korean War, among others. In particular, Foreign Minister Park, citing the trade volume between Korea and Mexico -- the former’s largest trading partner and second-largest investment destination in Latin America -- that exceeded US$20 billion last year for the first time, looked forward to closer cooperation in trade and investment with Mexico, a key beneficiary of global nearshoring. He added that, to that end, it is important to resume Korea-Mexico FTA negotiations as well as those for Korea’s accession to the Pacific Alliance (PA) as an associated state, asking for Foreign Minister Bárcena’s keen attention and cooperation in that regard. Foreign Minister Bárcena responded that utmost efforts will be made to resume Korea-Mexico FTA negotiations and to facilitate Korea’s accession to the PA as an associated state. On the heels of their meeting, the two Foreign Ministers had a Korean-style luncheon, over which they had a candid conversation on political and social affairs, economy, culture, and various other areas -- Korea-Mexico defense cooperation, including honorable treatment of the U.S. Korean War veterans of Mexican origin; the potential for Korea-Mexico economic cooperation amid the nearshoring trend; women’s participation in political and economic affairs in Mexico; and the popularity of Hallyu (Korean Wave) in Mexico and Koreans’ interest in rich Mexican culture. By doing so, the two sides further enhanced the Korea-Mexico friendship.
[Journalist Lee Jeong-ha's Special Series] The artist's work is a repetitive process of filling and erasing over countless hours. In the midst of this repetitive process, matière naturally emerges, and the time of coexistence and extinction comes into play. Kandinsky describes white as "a silence full of possibilities" - understated drawing, understated color, and the white of a blank page. Emptying rather than filling, spirit rather than material, form rather than formlessness. For a long time, the artist has been using the sharpness and simplicity of straight lines as a place for mutual breathing, flow, and communication between objects and objects. Filling the empty spaces with color and expressing various emotions, the artist creates a deeper sense of space through the aesthetics of slowness and pauses. The artist's colors carry the power of healing. As a result, looking at the bright and lively paintings within the canvas brings warmth to the heart. The fine lines of emotion on the screen, which are expressed like a fireworks display of fluorescent colors, sometimes clumsily and sometimes cheerfully, express feelings, wind, and time in color. The artist's works signify the meeting of art and healing, opening a new chapter in the inner self. Although the inner worlds revealed through art are diverse, each work encapsulates unique statements that blend personal emotions, experiences, and ideas. The artist shares insights gained through personal journeys, conveying a desire for communication through their works. Art, as depicted in these works, serves as a discourse on healing media that guides, encourages, comforts, and reveals the strength and courage found within ourselves. Seo Jeong-ja, Hongik University Graduate School of Fine Arts 2023: 14th Solo Exhibition (Gyeongnam Gallery, Seoul) Planned Invitational Exhibition (The Gallery, Ansan) Planned Invitational Exhibition (Tower Palace Gallery, Seoul) 2022: 13th Solo Exhibition (Gyeongnam Gallery, Seoul) 2017: 12th Solo Exhibition (Art World Gallery, Seoul) 11th Solo Exhibition (Kalakriti Art Gallery, Hyderabad) The Culture Center of Vijayawada, INDIA 2016: 10th Solo Exhibition (Able Gallery, New York, USA) 2015: 9th Solo Exhibition (Art World Gallery, Seoul) Invitational Solo Exhibition (Jung Joon-ho Gallery, Busan) 2012: 8th Solo Exhibition (Noam Gallery, Seoul) 2010: 7th Solo Exhibition (Scoia Art Center, Baijing, China) 6th Solo Exhibition (Gwanhun Gallery, Seoul) 2006: 5th Solo Exhibition (Kimi Gallery, Seoul) 2004: 4th Solo Exhibition (BoA Art Gallery, Vancouver, Canada) 2002: 3rd Solo Exhibition (Gwanhun Gallery, Seoul) 2001: 2nd Solo Exhibition (Gwanhun Gallery, Seoul) 1999: 1st Solo Exhibition (Insa Gallery, Seoul) Group Exhibitions: Over 150 domestic and international group exhibitions from 1985 to 2023 2012 ICA International Contemporary Art Lighting Exhibition (KEPCO Art Center, Seoul) 2006 Korea Art Exhibition - Shǎnxī Shěng Art Museum (Xi'an, China) 2001 UBC Asia Center Invitational Exhibition (Vancouver, Canada) 2000 Korea-Germany Artists Exhibition (Berlin, Germany) 21st International Impact Art Festival 2000 (Kyoto, Japan) Awards: 2016 Salon Blanc Art Association Chairman's Award, 20th Ilbul International Contemporary Art Exhibition 1998 Selected and awarded in numerous occasions at the Korean National Art Exhibition, (National Museum of Modern and Contemporary Art, Gwacheon)