UNJournal 이성준 | Special Feature Editor Andy Hyun The Republic of Korea and the Republic of Turkmenistan are elevating their bilateral relationship to a new level, centered on consular cooperation, and are leaping from ‘diplomacy protecting people’ to a ‘strategic partnership.’ A complex diplomatic structure is taking shape, extending beyond the simple protection of overseas citizens to cooperation in energy, logistics and geopolitics. On April 8, Lim Sang-woo, the Government Representative for the Protection of Overseas Citizens and Consular Affairs, held the 1st Korea-Turkmenistan Consular Co
UNJournal 이성준 | Special Feature Editor Andy Hyun The Republic of Korea and the Republic of Mongolia are two very special countries to each other. Ambassador Sukhe Sukhbold of Mongolia in Seoul emphasized: “Korea and Mongolia share a special relationship that has maintained a long history of exchanges extending far beyond the 35-year period of official diplomatic relations.” Speaking at a reception he hosted at the Ambassador Seoul Pullman Hotel on November 21 last year in commemoration of the 35th anniversary of diplomatic relations between Korea and Mongolia, Ambassador Sukhbold said: “Cooper
UNJournal 이성준 | TASHKENT - Uzbekistan has unveiled its updated Uzbekistan–2030 Strategy, marking a major step in the country’s journey toward national reform and development. Officials emphasise that implementing reform requires responsibility, consistency, institutional discipline, and public legitimacy. The government has revised the strategy following extensive public consultations, ensuring that citizens’ voices are reflected in the results-based policy framework. Aligned with international standards and designed to advance the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals, the strategy pos
UNJournal 이성준 | An analysis of nighttime satellite illumination data indicates a strengthening of economic activity across regions and an expansion in the number of territories exhibiting urban-type development. The Center for Economic Research and Reforms (CERR) applied satellite-based nighttime lights (NTL) data to assess economic activity at the level of regions and cities in Uzbekistan. The analysis shows that higher light intensity corresponds to higher levels of economic activity and more advanced urban infrastructure. CERR’s findings demonstrate a high degree of consistency between sate
UNJournal Dunyo IA | Navruz is considered one of the ancient and widely celebrated traditional holidays, embodying values such as humanity, kindness, generosity and diligence. This holiday holds a significant place in the culture of the peoples of Central Asia, Iran, the Caucasus, the Near East and South Asia, reflecting the continuity of centuries-old civilizational traditions. According to historical sources, the tradition of Navruz dates back at least three thousand years. Detailed information on this subject was provided by Abu Rayhan Beruni in his work “The Remaining Signs of Past Ages” (
UNJournal 이성준 | As the curtailment of prosecutorial investigative powers and the debate over dismantling the Prosecutor's Office have moved from theory to reality, South Korea's criminal justice system stands at a crossroads of fundamental transformation. With investigative power shifting toward the police, the force is no longer a supporting institution — it is now the central actor in national investigation, accountable for both its authority and its results. Yet expanded authority does not automatically translate into public trust. How the police handle the weighty demands of investigative
UNJournal 이성준 | Amir Temur occupies a place in world history not only as a great commander and statesman who built a powerful and prosperous state. The great ruler turned his capital, Samarkand, into one of the cultural, architectural, scientific and spiritual centers of the world. Therefore, the study of Amir Temur's exemplary life and statecraft, the history of his reign, the study of science and culture in it, as one of the major scientific directions of historiography, has always been and remains the focus of attention of world scientists, heads of state, and politicians. Also, sources on
UNJournal Lee Sung Jun | "Endless self-strengthening" is the power to constantly illuminate oneself. This saying resonates particularly painfully with us today. We feel tired too often, give up too easily, and live our lives confused about when to rest and when to stop. Modern society constantly demands speed. We are pressured to achieve immediate results, see visible results, and quantify our efforts. Consequently, many people push themselves to become stronger. However, self-strengthening and non-stop in the Buddha's teachings is not about such compulsion. It is not about the power to outdo
UNJournal Lee Sung Jun | Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni will pay an official visit to South Korea from January 17 to 19, Cheong Wa Dae announced, marking the first visit by a European leader since the inauguration of Lee Jae-myung. The visit will also be the first time South Korea welcomes a foreign leader at Cheong Wa Dae since the presidential office returned there, and the first bilateral summit visit by an Italian prime minister in 19 years. President Lee and Prime Minister Meloni are scheduled to hold summit talks and an official luncheon on January 19. Expanding Cooperation in Tra
UNJournal Lee Sung Jun | In his recent interview published on January 5, 2026, in the newspaper Turkistan, President of the Republic of Kazakhstan Kassym-Jomart Tokayev offered a comprehensive and candid assessment of the country’s development trajectory, laying out his vision for Kazakhstan’s path towards modernization. His remarks reflect not only impressive economic achievements, but also deep structural changes shaping the future of our nation. He stated that “This year will be pivotal for our country, as a number of critically important events will take place that will define Kazakhstan’s
UNJournal Lee Sung Jun | On November 28, 2025, President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev addressed a dialogue platform for rural akims (mayors), outlining his vision for the long-term development of remote areas. Kazakhstan’s Political Reforms: Evolution Instead of Shock Change President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev is implementing a large-scale transformation of Kazakhstan’s political system by pursuing an evolutionary path of development based on institutional reform and a carefully calibrated sequence of actions. Since 2019, Kazakhstan has adopted around twenty laws aimed at modernizing its political system
UNJournal Jon Lee | The Blue House announced that President Lee Jae-myung will visit Nara Prefecture, Japan, for a two-day, one-night trip on January 13th and 14th to hold a summit with Japanese Prime Minister Takaichi. This visit was made at the invitation of the Japanese government, following the suggestion during the summit with Prime Minister Takaichi at last year's Gyeongju APEC summit that "the next shuttle diplomacy should be held in Nara, the Prime Minister's hometown."This marks the third meeting between President Lee and Prime Minister Takaichi, less than three months after his inaug
UNJournal Lee Sung Jun | Speaker Woo Won-Shik of the National Assembly of the Republic of Korea met with Ambassador Khalid bin Ebrahim Al Hamar of the State of Qatar at the Speaker’s Office in Seoul on the morning of January 8 this year. They discussed ways to expand economic cooperation between the two countries and resolve local challenges faced by Korean companies. The most notable outcome of this meeting was the progress made in the long-pending Doha Metro dispute. Last November, Speaker Woo became the first Republic of Korea National Assembly Speaker to make an official visit to Qatar, wh
UNJournal Lee Sung Jun | BEIJING — South Korean President Lee Jae-myung and Chinese President Xi Jinping held a 90-minute summit on Jan. 5, 2026, agreeing to fully restore bilateral relations and significantly expand cooperation across the economic, cultural, and security sectors. A Turning Point in Strategic Partnership The summit, which took place at the Great Hall of the People, lasted 30 minutes longer than scheduled, reflecting the depth of the issues discussed. In his opening remarks, President Lee characterized the meeting as a "crucial momentum" to make 2026 the inaugural year for the
UNJournal Lee Sung Jun | The Director of the Institute for Strategic and Regional Studies under the President of Uzbekistan (ISRS), Eldor Aripov, commented to Dunyo IA on President Shavkat Mirziyoyev’s Address to the Oliy Majlis and the people of Uzbekistan. The Address of President Shavkat Mirziyoyev to the Oliy Majlis and the people of Uzbekistan goes far beyond the scope of a routine annual political speech in its significance. It constitutes a strategic policy document that marks the country’s transition to a qualitatively new stage of development, the institutional consolidation of reform