By UN Journal Lee Kap-soo LG Electronics (LG), a mobility sector technology leader, has been honored at General Motors’ (GM) 33rd annual Supplier of the Year event in Arizona, USA, earning the coveted title of “Creativity Team Award” for redefining in-vehicle entertainment and connectivity, the LG said on April 14. “This latest recognition from GM serves as a testament to our commitment to developing and reliably supplying innovative automotive solutions,” said Eun Seok-hyun, president of the LG Vehicle Solution Company. “We look forward to strengthening our partnership as we continue to push
By UN Journal Lee Kap-soo South Korean airline Eastar Jet has launched a new direct flight on the Seoul – Almaty route on April 7, marking another step in strengthening ties between Kazakhstan and South Korea. This is the first flight to Kazakhstan operated by Korean low-cost airline (LCC). Speaking at the launch ceremony, Ambassador of Kazakhstan Nurgali Arystanov emphasized that currently there were 11 direct flights per week between the two countries, and the addition of two new flights by Eastar Jet creates a new "aviation bridge", which will further promote business partnerships and incre
By UN Journal Lee Kap-soo On April 3, in the city of Samarkand, on the sidelines of the “Central Asia and the European Union” Summit, the President of the Republic of Tajikistan, HE. Mr. Emomali Rahmon, met with the President of the European Council, H.E. Mr. Antonio Costa. The two sides discussed issues of cooperation between Tajikistan and the European Union. The President Emomali Rahmon, emphasized that “we consider the European Union to be one of our important partners in the international arena.” Antonio Costa stressed the importance of resolving border issues between Tajikistan, Kyrgyzst
By UN Journal Lee Kap-soo Fast fashion is accelerating an environmental catastrophe, with the equivalent of one garbage truck’s worth of clothing either incinerated or sent to landfill every second, the UN chief warned on March 27. Speaking at an event commemorating Sunday’s International Day of Zero Waste, Secretary-General António Guterres called for urgent action to curb the textile industry’s devastating impact on the planet., the UN News reported. “Dressing to kill could kill the planet,” he stressed. The fashion industry is one of the world’s most polluting sectors, responsible for up to
By UN Journal Lee Kap-soo The leaders of Tajikistan, Kyrgyzstan, and Uzbekistan convened for a trilateral summit in the historic city of Khujand on March 31, 2025. President of the Republic of Tajikistan His Excellency Emomali Rahmon welcomed the visiting heads of state, His Excellency Sadyr Japarov, the President of the Kyrgyz Republic and His Excellency Shavkat Mirziyoyev, the President of the Republic of Uzbekistan. In his opening remarks, President Rahmon extended Navruz greetings and highlighted the holiday's enduring significance in promoting human values, mutual respect, and harmony. He
By UN Journal Lee Kap-soo The following article was contributed by Obid Khakimov, director of the Center for Economic Research and Reforms, to UN Journal for publication through the Embassy of Uzbekistan in Seoul. –Ed. On April 3–4, 2025, Samarkand will host a historic event: the first-ever Summit between the European Union and Central Asia. The meeting will be chaired by the President of Uzbekistan, Shavkat Mirziyoyev, and will include the participation of the leaders of Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, and Turkmenistan. The EU will be represented by European Council President Antonio Cost
By UN Journal Lee Kap-soo George Mason University Korea, the U.S. Embassy in Seoul, the U.S. Embassy in Tokyo, and Coupang announced on March 25 the 2025 Young Trilateral Leaders (YTL) Esports Competition, a U.S.-ROK-Japan trilateral initiative aimed at fostering strategic thinking, teamwork, and digital engagement among young gamers. This competition will serve as an educational platform for participants to develop essential cognitive and collaborative skills within a competitive environment while strengthening trilateral relations between the three nations. The YTL Esports Competition provid
By UN Journal Lee Kap-soo Hyundai Motor Group announced a significant investment of USD 21 billion in the United States from 2025 to 2028, the group said on March 25. This commitment reflects the Group’s strategic focus on expanding its manufacturing capabilities, advancing future technologies, and enhancing energy infrastructure in America. This latest U.S. investment builds on the Group’s existing allocation of approximately USD 20.5 billion since entering the U.S. market in 1986. “Hyundai Motor Group is deepening its partnership with the United States, reinforcing our shared vision for Amer
By UN Journal Lee Kap-soo Mayor Lee Kang-deok of Pohang City, Gyeongbuk Province, met with former Israeli Ambassador to Korea Chaim Choshen, who visited Pohang on March 18, and asked him to help build bridges between Pohang and Israel. Former Ambassador Chaim Choshen, who received an honorary doctorate from Handong University, is one of Israel's leading experts on East Asia and served as the country's ambassador to South Korea from 2016 to 2020. He has been involved with Pohang since the 2017 earthquake, when the Israeli Embassy donated $10,000 worth of supplies to local victims. Recently, he
By UN Journal Lee Kap-soo High-Level International Conference on Glaciers' Preservation will be held from 29 to 31 May 2025 in Dushanbe, Republic of Tajikistan, to highlight the vital role of glaciers in maintaining global ecological balance and addressing water-related challenges, the Embassy of Tajikistan in Seoul said on March 18. This Conference will emphasize the crucial connection between glaciers and sustainable socio-economic development, focusing on how glacier preservation is essential to safeguarding livelihoods, ensuring water availability, minimizing related hazards, recognizing t
By UN Journal Lee Kap-soo “Lithuania is a global leader in laser technology, with its companies supplying precision laser systems used in medicine, industry, and scientific research worldwide,” said Amb. H.E. Ricardas Slepavicius of the Republic of Lithuania on March 6. In an exclusive interview with Diplomacy Journal held at the Embassy of the Republic of Lithuania in Jongno-gu, Seoul, Amb. Slepavicius said, “Among the three Baltic countries, Lithuania stands as South Korea's largest trading partner. Korean investors are particularly drawn to Lithuania’s rapidly growing biopharmaceutical indu
By UN Journal Lee Kap-soo “The Dominican Republic is ready, as well, for Korean investment in energy transition, for Korean services to decarbonize all sectors, for working together on creating a circular economy and for strengthening our defense and security,” said His Excellency Dr. Federico Alberto Cuello Camilo Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary. Delivering a statement on the occasion of the 181st National Day Celebration of the Dominican Republic, which was held at the Ambassador Pullman Hotel in Seoul on March 6, Amb. Federico Alberto Cuello Camilo said, “That is why Dominican
By UN Journal Lee Kap-soo A special cultural exchange exhibition commemorating the 33rd anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between the Republic of Korea and the Republic of Uzbekistan opened at the Korea Museum of Art in Insa-dong, Seoul, on March 5. The exhibition was co-organized by Ambassador of Uzbekistan to Korea H.E. Mr. Alisher Abdusalomov and Diplomacy Journal Chairman Lee Jon-young, and was designed to promote cultural ties and artistic exchanges between Korea and Uzbekistan. The Korea-Uzbekistan Cultural Exchange Exhibition, which opened on March 5, will ran unt
By UN Journal Lee Kap-soo The Embassy of the Republic of Bulgaria in Seoul hosted a reception to celebrate the country’s national day and the 35 years of diplomatic relations between the Republic of Bulgaria and the Republic of Korea at the Grand Hyatt Seoul on Feb. 28. Delivering welcoming remarks, H.E. Petar Kraytchev, the ambassador of the Republic of Bulgaria to the Republic of Korea, said, “In 2025 we celebrate 35 years of Diplomatic Relations between the Republic of Bulgaria and the Republic of Korea. Since 1990 the ties between our two countries have sustained a perpetual trend of enhan
By UN Journal Lee Kap-soo “Vietnam is a very attractive market because it's a market of 100 million people and it's an open market in formation. So a lot of sectors are being considered by businesses from Korea with such large corporations like Samsung, LG and Hanwha,” said Ambassador of Vietnam to South Korea Vu Ho. In an exclusive interview with Diplomacy journal at the Embassy of Vietnam in Bukchon-dong, Seoul on Feb. 27, Amb. Vu Ho said, “In Vietnam, there is also one community that is no less important for the small and medium-sized enterprises. So all of them are trying to get something