By UN Journal Lee Kap-soo “Uzbekistan, the heart of Central Asia and a key crossroads of the Silk Road, is swiftly becoming a must-visit destination for travelers worldwide, including Korean tourists,” said Amb. Alisher Abdusalomov of Uzbekistan to South Korea. In an exclusive interview with Diplomacy Journal, Amb. Abdusalomov said, “Boasting a rich history, breathtaking architecture, and a vibrant cultural heritage, Uzbekistan offers a distinctive blend of experiences that enchant and inspire.” Noting that every year, Uzbekistan is visited by 40 thousand Korean tourists, he said, “Uzbekistan,
By UN Journal Lee Kap-soo A special exhibition will be held to strengthen cultural ties between South Korea and Uzbekistan in the new year of 2025. The 52nd International Cultural Exchange Exhibition will be held from March 5 to 11 on the second floor of the Insa-dong Museum of Korean Art in Seoul, marking the 33rd anniversary of diplomatic relations between the two countries. The international event was organized in consultation with Uzbekistan's Ambassador to Korea Alisher Abdusalomov and Diplomatic Journal Chairman Lee Jon-young. The exhibition will be a magnificent cultural exchange, bring
By UN Journal Lee Kap-soo Seoul Metropolitan Government will launch the Hangang Bus, a new waterborne means of transportation, with two newly constructed catamarans ready for service, this year. These vessels’ specially designed low-profile hulls will minimize wave impact and allow them to pass under Jamsugyo, the city bridge with the lowest boat clearance, that sits right below Banpodaegyo Bridge. Their white base color with a gradient of blue hues echoes the river’s shifting appearance throughout the day, creating a visual connection between the vessels and the natural surroundings. Eunsung
By UN Journal Lee Kap-soo In a message commemorating the International Day of Epidemic Preparedness on Dec. 27, UN Secretary-General António Guterres urged all nations to invest in resilience and equity to make a healthier and safer world for all, the UN News reported. The world remains dangerously unprepared for the next pandemic, despite the harrowing lessons of COVID-19, Mr. Guterres warned. “COVID-19 was a wake-up call to the world,” he stated, reflecting on the devastating human, economic and social toll of the pandemic. “The crisis may have passed, but a harsh lesson remains: the world i
By UN Journal Lee Kap-soo Minister of Foreign Affairs Cho Tae-yul presided over the Fourth Overseas Nationals Protection Committee Meeting on December 9, with the participation of government members from relevant ministries and six civilian members. The Committee reviewed the implementation results of the 2024 Overseas Nationals Protection Plan, and deliberated on and approved the 2025 Plan. In addition, the Committee discussed current issues, including the protection of overseas nationals in some conflict regions of the Middle East and measures to strengthen inter-ministerial cooperation in a
By UN Journal Lee Kap-soo Amid heightened uncertainty in the Korean financial markets following the state of emergency, Financial Services Commission (FSC) Chairman Kim Byoung-hwan met with the British Ambassador to Korea Colin Crooks on Dec. 11 and emphasized that “the Korean government has been consistently and reliably managing the market situation by closely monitoring it and implementing proactive market stabilization measures.” “Based on our experience in keeping the financial system stable during the political upheaval in 2016, we now have more robust market stabilization mechanisms in
By UN Journal Lee Kap-soo Prime Minister Han Duck-soo met with the U.S. ambassador to South Korea Philip Goldberg on Dec. 9 to explain the state of affairs following the emergency martial law. According to the Prime Minister's Office on Dec. 10, Prime Minister Han met with U.S. Ambassador Philip Goldberg at the Seoul Government Complex the previous afternoon and told him that the Seoul government is “fully committed to running the country based on the Constitution and laws.” “Please actively inform the international community through various channels, including overseas diplomatic missions and
By UN Journal Lee Kap-soo “After 14 years of brutal war and the fall of the dictatorial regime, today the people of Syria can seize an historic opportunity to build a stable and peaceful future,” UN Secretary-General António Guterres said on Dec. 8. As reports continued to emerge from the Syrian capital, Damascus, where opposition forces declared victory overnight on State television, the UN chief said in a statement: The future of Syria is a matter for the Syrians to determine. There is much work to be done to ensure an orderly political transition to renewed institutions, Mr. Guterres, and n
By UN Journal Lee Kap-soo LG Chem and the extrusion machine manufacturer Reifenhäuser have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU), confirming further extensive cooperation on Nov. 28, 2024. The aim is to further develop and market competitive Machine Direction Oriented (MDO)-PE blown films and flat films for recyclable packaging. The partners are building on a successful track record: In May 2024, the companies had presented the world's first MDO-PE film only 18 micrometers (µm) , which had been produced on an EVO Ultra Stretch blown film line from Reifenhäuser with specially developed PE
By UN Journal Lee Kap-soo Korea Enterprises Federation (KEF), led by Chairman Sohn Kyung-shik, invited Japanese Ambassador to Korea Koichi Mizushima to discuss the direction of economic cooperation between Korea and Japan on Nov. 12. “If Korean and Japanese companies work together to contribute to the stability of the international supply chain and strengthen cooperation in the field of new technologies, it will contribute to global peace and prosperity,” said KEF Chairman Sohn Kyung-shik at a meeting held at the Westin Chosun Hotel in Jung-gu, Seoul. “Recently, Korean and Japanese companies h
By UN Journal Lee Kap-soo Following another year of record-high global heat and extreme weather events, UN climate chief Simon Stiell told negotiators at COP29 in Baku that setting an ambitious new climate finance target is crucial for the well-being of all nations, including the wealthiest and most powerful, the UN News reported. “Let’s dispense with any idea that climate finance is charity;” runaway climate change is impacting “every single individual in the world one way or another,” Mr. Stiell said on Nov. 11. His strong call to action kicked off the latest round of UN climate talks, which
By UN Journal Lee Kap-soo “Ghana remains an attractive destination for investments in the sub region. Having developed and grown our democracy and political stability tremendously over the past three decades, our efforts at trade and industrial development have also seen good progress,” said H.E. Amb. Charis Obetsebi-Lamptey Zwennes of Ghana to Korea. In a recent interview with the Diplomacy Journal, Amb. Obetsebi-Lamptey Zwennes said, “In keeping with Ghana’s long-term vision of achieving resilient economic development, the government has consistently pursued an export diversification drive t
By UN Journal Lee Kap-soo "The Israeli army’s killing of journalists in Gaza is “unacceptable”, calling for their protection from the genocide committing in the Gaza Strip," said United Nations (UN) Secretary-General Antonio Guterres. His remarks were made in a message sent to the UN International Media Seminar on Peace in the Middle East 2024 held at the UN office in Geneva on Nov. 1. He stated that the war on Gaza completed its first year last month and that this symposium is being held under “profoundly difficult circumstances” due to the violations extending to Lebanon. The secretary-gener
By UN Journal Lee Kap-soo UN Secretary-General António Guterres on Oct. 13 reiterated that the safety and security of UN personnel and property must be guaranteed, following the deliberate breach of a UN peacekeeping position by Israel Defense Forces (IDF) armored vehicles in southern Lebanon, the UN News reported. The incident took place early on Sunday morning (local time), when two IDF Merkava tanks destroyed the main gate and forcibly entered the position, according to the UN Interim Force in Lebanon. About two hours later, after the tanks had left, several rounds were fired nearby, emitti
By UN Journal Lee Kap-soo In Tashkent the 12th Congress of the Social Democratic Party of Uzbekistan “Adolat” was held. It was attended by delegates elected from the Republic of Karakalpakstan, regions, and the city of Tashkent, representatives of the Political Council, members of the Central Audit Commission, and the party faction in the Legislative Chamber of the Oliy Majlis, party activists, and media workers. The participants summed up the party’s activities for 2020-2024 and identified priority tasks for the future. As noted, the number of SDPU “Adolat” members of Uzbekistan during the re