By UN Journal Lee Jon-young The following article was contributed by Choi Keong-ju, a professor of Keimyung University (Ph.D) and advisor of Korea-Saudi Friendship Society, to Diplomacy Journal for publication.—Ed. Saudi Arabia's Vision 2030 is a comprehensive strategy for the kingdom to diversify its economy and achieve social reforms as it moves away from its oil-dependent economy. The plan was announced by Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman in April 2016 and provides a blueprint for the Kingdom's long-term economic and social development. Its main objectives are as follows. Firstly, it aims t
By UN Journal Lee Jon-young A court has granted a request to revoke the detention of President Yoon Suk Yeol, who was indicted and detained on charges of being the "ringleader of a rebellion" related to the martial law crisis. The Seoul Central District Court's Criminal Division 25 (Head Judge Ji Gui-yeon) granted Yoon's request to cancel his detention on March 7. Revocation of detention is a system that allows prosecutors, defendants, defense lawyers, and others to ask the court to remove a person from detention when the reason for detention no longer exists or has been eliminated. President
By UN Journal Lee Jon-young The Korean coffee market is gaining global attention. It is now more than just a trend, but a new category called 'K-Coffee' is forming alongside K-Food. At the center of it all is Kim Jin-koo, CEO of COFFEE NINE, who raised the profile of Korean coffee by winning 6th place at the 2012 SCAE WCIC World Championships in Vienna, Austria as a Korean national team member. He is leading the innovation of Korea's leading K-Coffee brand by exploring the essence of coffee. Kim Jin-koo, a pioneer of K-Coffee franchise With a deep understanding and research of coffee, Kim made
UNJournal Jon Lee | The following is the English version of the full text of President Yoon Suk-yeol’s closing statement at the impeachment trial, which was translated by 'Deepl.” It is assumed that there may be errors in the English translation. — Ed. Honorable members of the Constitutional Court and beloved people who have been following this trial with interest, it has been 84 days since I declared emergency martial law on December 3 last year. These have been some of the most difficult days of my life, but they have also been a time of gratitude and reflection. As I took stock of myself, I
By UN Journal Lee Jon-young To mark the successful journey as a global leap forward, the Al-Asa Forum focuses on investing in the present and predicting the future in line with the national direction. The forum sought to enrich and empower events to promote promising investment opportunities, forge strategic partnerships and alliances, and launch sustainable development projects. These initiatives highlight Al-Asa's resources, competitive advantages, and investment potential, and these efforts will undoubtedly promote regional prosperity and support the development journey in line with the dir
UNJournal Jon Lee | The '2025 44th New Year Leadership Development Highest Course for Culture and Arts' hosted by the Korea Paper Culture Foundation-World Jongie Jupgi Organization (Chairwoman Rho Young-hye) was held at the Jongie Nara Museum in Jangchung-dong, Seoul on Feb. 10. The event was attended by more than 100 participants, including foundation executives, education directors, branch directors, and specially registered instructors for leadership training, who shared their vision for the globalization of Korea Jongie Jupgi (Paper folding). Delivering welcome speech, Chairwoman Rho said,
By UN Journal Lee Jon-young In order to maintain a just society, the law must be operated based on fairness and trust. Dasan Jeong Yak-yong (丁若鏞, 1762-1836), a Silhak scholar of the late Joseon Dynasty who studied practical matters, wrote "Heumheumsinseo欽欽新書" and sought ways to rationally enforce criminal law and prevent unjust prison cases. This was part of efforts to improve the judicial system at the time and is considered an important guideline for fair trials. In modern society, securing fairness and trust in the judicial system is an important task, and legal measures such as the revisio
By UN Journal Lee Jon-young 湖月撈影 湖月撈影 "Trying to catch the moon in the lake." 湖水無塵映月明 "The lake is clear without dust, shining brightly in the moonlight" 輕波一掬碎光生 ""When the calm waves rise, a shattered light is seen." 虛浮難取縈手裏 "A floating shadow is hard to catch, and it drifts in my hand." 空勞夢影滿江聲 "Empty labor is all that remains, and the river is filled with the shadows of dreams." This poem expresses a sense of vain desire and futility through the contents, "I try to catch the moon reflected in the lake, but I can't." The lake is clear, and the moonlight is clear. But the object of desire is
UNJournal Jon Lee | The following article was contributed by the Embassy of Uzbekistan in Seoul to Diplomacy Journal for publication. --Ed. Uzbekistan’s foreign economic activity, focused on a proactive and practical approach emphasizing mutual respect and consideration of interests, comprehensively contributes to strengthening multifaceted and mutually beneficial ties with various countries worldwide. The diversification of investment and trade cooperation, the desire to open new markets and establish mutually beneficial cooperation beyond the nearest regions, is bearing fruit, and one of the
UNJournal Jon Lee | The Global Impact Coalition (GIC), a CEO-led collaborative platform for a net-zero chemicals future, is proud to announce LG Chem as its newest member. As one of the world’s largest chemical companies and a leader in sustainable materials, LG Chem’s membership sends a strong signal to Asia and the broader industry that global collaboration is essential to developing sustainable and commercially viable solutions. This milestone reinforces GIC’s growing global impact and highlights the importance of international partnerships in scaling up solutions to reduce emissions. Notab
UNJournal Jon Lee | The following article was contributed by Umid Shadiev, Chairman of the Tourism Committee, to Diplomacy Journal for publication through the Embassy of Uzbekistan in Seoul. -- Ed. Uzbekistan and Malaysia may be located in different parts of the world, in Central Asia and Southeast Asia, but we actively cooperate to develop in mutually beneficial ways. Tourism is a key area of our partnership. Despite the significant geographical distance between us, there is enormous potential for expanding ties in the tourism sector, which, in turn, will bring economic benefits and promote c
UNJournal Jon Lee | History is the root of an individual's roots and the core of a nation's and people's identity. So when history is lost or distorted, it's not just about losing the past, it's about losing the present and the future. While the occupation of territory cannot transcend physical boundaries, the occupation of history shakes a people's memory, culture, and spirit to the core. It results in mental colonization and leaves lasting damage that transcends generations. When history is occupied, it destroys a nation's sense of identity and pride. For example, during Japan's colonization
UNJournal Jon Lee | Kim Ki-jong is an artist who has gained attention in the Korean art world for his contemporary interpretation of the moon jar, a symbol of traditional Korean ceramics. His works are considered to have a mesmerizing power to stimulate the inner feelings and emotions of Koreans beyond the mere shape of the pottery. As a specially selected artist for the National Exhibition, his skills are widely recognized. Kim has developed his own unique style of painting that harmoniously fuses tradition and modernity, using a variety of materials and techniques to maximize the beauty of h
UNJournal Jon Lee | Choi Sang-mok, Acting President and Deputy Prime Minister, met with ambassadors from the Group of Seven (G7) and the European Union (EU) on Jan. 15, saying that “the Korean economic system is operating stably.” “Under the acting presidential system, our government is carrying out its work in various fields, including the economy and security, without any wavering,” Choi said during a luncheon meeting with the ambassadors. In particular, Choi emphasized the maintenance of the government's foreign policy stance and reaffirmed its cooperative relations with major countries. Th
UNJournal Jon Lee | The Embassy of the Republic of Singapore in Seoul unveiled a logo to commemorate the 50th anniversary of diplomatic relations between Singapore and the Republic of Korea on Jan. 13. The design, submitted by a team of students from the Korea National University of Arts, was selected as part of the Singapore-South Korea 50th Anniversary Logo Competition, co-organized by the Embassy of Singapore in Korea and the Embassy of the Republic of Korea in Singapore. The logo is based on symbolic elements and colors inspired by the flags of Korea and Singapore, with the number '50' har