UNJournal Jon Lee | “The Philippines and South Korea signed the Free Trade Agreement (FTA) on Sept. 7, 2023. The enhance partnership supported by the FTA can lead to more strategic investments in priority sectors and industries for both the Philippines and Korea,” said Amb. Theresa Dizon-De Vega of the Philippines in Seoul. In an exclusive interview with UN Journal, the sister media of Diplomacy Journal, Amb. Dizon-De Vega said, “The Philippines’ Department of Trade and Industry has already begun actively promoting Korean investments particularly in industries or sectors where South Korea is c
UNJournal Jon Lee | Panel discussion with the people|Second, The housing people want Image source: The Office of the President
UNJournal Jon Lee | The Korea Space Administration Act, which has been called the "Korean version of NASA," has passed the plenary session of the National Assembly. At the plenary session of the National Assembly on Jan. 9, the 'Special Act on the Establishment and Operation of the Korea Aerospace Administration' (KAIA Act) was passed with 263 votes in favor, 0 against, and 3 abstentions out of the 266 lawmakers present. The enactment of the Act follows President Yoon Suk-yeol's pledge to establish a national control tower to lead space development. The bill establishes the agency under the Mi
UNJournal Jon Lee | The following article on excerpts from the interview of the President of Kazakhstan, Kassym-Jomart Tokayev, with Egemen Qazaqstan newspaper, was contributed by the Embassy of Kazakhstan in Seoul to Diplomacy Journal. –Ed. “We will continue a constructive and balanced foreign policy, taking into account the national interests of the country. In 2024, our country will host a number of representative summits and forums. Kazakhstan will chair several authoritative international organizations at once, including the Shanghai Cooperation Organization, the Collective Security Treat
UNJournal Jon Lee | Journalist Lee JY’s photo exploration
UNJournal Jon Lee | Boogie Moli, better known as Boogie, is a contemporary street artist born in 1995 in Kinshasa, Congo. The exhibition is being held at Doonamjae Gallery (located at 45, Tehyeran-ro 4-gil, Gangnam-gu, Seoul) from January 5 to February 18, organized by Oasis Art, CEO of Sublime Kim Ho-jae and CEO of Cuba Art Sunter Cha Hyo-joon. Boogie and his family immigrated to England when he was 10 years old, and soon after, his passion for soccer led him to play in the streets with his friends. His talent was soon recognized, and in 2009, he played for Liverpool FC, before signing a prof
UNJournal Jon Lee | In 1978, at the age of 25, Arok Jung Gui-ja joined the Jeong Soo-hee's Folk Painting Institute, located in the Seoul National University Alumni Hall building near Gwanghwamun, after watching a TV program about folk paintings. This choice led to her eventual ascension to the status of Seoul City's Intangible Cultural Heritage Folk Painting Artisan. It was a chance encounter with folk painting that turned out to be fateful. In 1980, she met Kim Man-hee, the first and only master folk painter of Korea and the Seoul City Intangible Cultural Property No. 18, as her second teache
UNJournal Jon Lee | Hankuk University of Foreign Studies (HUFS) announced on Dec. 7 that Prof. Kim Jin-ah of the LD Department of the university has been appointed as a member of the UN Advisory Board on Disarmament Matters under the umbrella of UN Secretary-General António Guterres. The UN Advisory Board on Disarmament Matters, established by agreement of the UN General Assembly in 1978, consists of 15 ambassadors and civilian experts. Prof. Kim is the third South Korean and first civilian to be appointed to the member of the UN Advisory Board on Disarmament Matters. Beginning her term in Jan
UNJournal Jon Lee | Journalist Lee JY’s photo exploration
UNJournal Jon Lee | Journalist Lee JY’s photo exploration
UNJournal Jon Lee | The Future Minerals Forum's (FMF) Ministerial Roundtable, scheduled to take place on January 9, ahead of the third Forum, is expected to break records in terms of the number of participants, FMF has announced. As confirmed to date, more than 45 out of 80 countries will send ministerial representatives to participate in discussions with stakeholders at the meeting. In addition, 20 official international organizations, 30 non-governmental organizations, and 13 business associations will also participate. As the world's highest-level gathering on minerals, the Roundtable marks
UNJournal Jon Lee | The UN Security Council on Jan. 3 held its first open meeting on the continuing attacks by Houthi rebels in the Red Sea, which are becoming an increasing threat to global trade and the stability of the entire region as the intense fighting between Israel and Palestinian militants in Gaza continues, the UN News reported. At the meeting, UN Assistant Secretary-General Khaled Khiari said, “No cause or grievance could justify continuing Houthi attacks against freedom of navigation in the Red Sea. All incidents originating in Houthi controlled areas must stop.” He encouraged “al
UNJournal Jon Lee | The following is the full-text of the New Year message delivered by UN Secretary-General António Guterres on Dec. 28, 2023. -- Ed. 2023 has been a year of enormous suffering, violence, and climate chaos. Humanity is in pain. Our planet is in peril. 2023 is the hottest year on record. People are getting crushed by growing poverty and hunger. Wars are growing in number and ferocity. And trust is in short supply. But pointing fingers and pointing guns lead nowhere. Humanity is strongest when we stand together. 2024 must be a year for rebuilding trust and restoring hope. We mus
UNJournal Jon Lee | The Adora Magic City, a 130,000-ton cruise ship built by China, arrived in Jeju for the first time on Dec. 28, 2023. The number of international cruise ships to and from Jeju in 2024, including this one, is expected to more than double after visiting Gangjeong Village about 80 times in 2023, raising expectations in the tourism industry. At around 11:30 a.m. on this day, Jeju Complex Tourism Port in Gangjeong-dong, Seogwipo City, was bustling with 2,600 passengers on the Adora Magic City, which arrived in Jeju from Shanghai, China, via Kagoshima, Japan. The passengers were i
UNJournal Jon Lee | Former Chungbuk National Police Chief Chung Yong-geun (58), who is running for the 22nd general election for the People Power Party in Chungju, announced on Jan. 2 that he will give up the privilege of non-arrest of lawmakers. Chung said, "There are many privileges of lawmakers in Korea, and I will give them all up. I know better than anyone else the aspirations of citizens for a new politics." In a written pledge, Chung said, "I pledge before the people that if I am elected as a member of the National Assembly of the Republic of Korea and a motion to arrest me is submitted