UNJournal Kayla Lee | President Lee Jae-myung extended the highest level of diplomatic honors to Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva during his state visit to Korea on February 23, with Cheong Wa Dae describing the reception as a reflection of "President Lula and First Lady Janja Lula da Silva's personal tastes and Korea’s deep respect for the Brazilian people and their culture." President Lula arrived the previous day and held a summit with President Lee at Cheong Wa Dae that morning. Upon arrival, President Lula and his wife were escorted by a 70-member marching band and traditiona
UNJournal Kayla Lee | In January 2026, automobile export volume increased 23.4 percent year-on-year, with domestic sales up 14.0 percent, and production up 24.1 percent. There were three fewer working days in January 2025 than in 2026 since the 2025 Lunar New Year holiday fell on January 25–30. Nevertheless, the strong growth in eco-friendly vehicle exports remained clearly evident. Automobile exports totaled USD 6.1 billion, up 21.7 percent year-on-year, the second-highest January export value on record. Eco-friendly vehicle exports accounted for 42 percent of the total, led by hybrid vehicle
UNJournal Kayla Lee | Korean food service brands are expanding their global footprint on the back of the Korean Wave (Hallyu), according to the Survey on the Overseas Expansion of Korean Food Service Companies, released by the Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs (MAFRA) on February 6. MAFRA reported on January 12 that total K-Food+ exports reached USD 13.6 billion in 2025, a 5.1% year-over-year increase. That broke down to USD 10.4 billion from agri-food products and USD 3.22 billion from agro-industry products (smart farms, agricultural equipment, pet food, veterinary medical prod
UNJournal Kayla Lee | President Lee Jae-myung and Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva held a summit at Cheong Wa Dae on February 23 and agreed to elevate bilateral relations to a “Strategic Partnership” for the first time in 67 years since establishing diplomatic ties in 1959. Immediately following the talks, the two leaders announced in a joint press statement the adoption of the “Korea-Brazil Four-Year Action Plan,” encompassing political and economic ties, practical cooperation, and civilian exchanges, and stated it would serve as the mid-to-long-term roadmap for bilateral coopera
UNJournal Kayla Lee | The Ministry of Trade, Industry and Resources (MOTIR) and the Ministry of Science and ICT (MSIT) announced on February 13, 2026, that Korea’s information and communication technology (ICT ) exports in January totaled USD 29.1 billion, up 78.5 percent year-on-year. Imports rose 20.0 percent year-on-year to $14.1 billion, resulting in a trade surplus of $15.0 billion. In January 2026, ICT exports posted the highest January total and year-on-year growth on record. The increase reflected expanding global demand for AI infrastructure and the ongoing shift toward higher-specifi
UNJournal Kayla Lee | The visit of Kazakh President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev to the United States provided an opportunity for targeted negotiations with major international corporations and financial institutions, centered on long-term investment, production localization, and Kazakhstan’s integration into global value chains. One of the key outcomes was the signing of an investment agreement worth approximately $180 million between Kazakhstan’s Ministry of Agriculture and Mars, Incorporated. The company plans to build a pet food production plant in the city of Alatau. The project will focus on th
UNJournal Kayla Lee | Trade Minister Yeo Han-koo of the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Resources (MOTIR) attended the Korea–India Economic Cooperation Conference on February 20, 2026, at the Lotte Hotel Seoul. Held under the theme “The Future of Korea–India Economic Cooperation for Shared Prosperity,” the conference examined practical directions for future economic cooperation with India, a country drawing growing attention as a next-generation manufacturing base and key supply chain hub, backed by its vast domestic market and an annual growth rate of 6 to 7 percent. The event brought togethe
UNJournal Kayla Lee | South Korea is quietly building one of Asia's most deliberate pipelines of PhD-level talent for its waste-to-energy and circular economy industries. A newly concluded government-backed training program offers a window into how seriously Seoul is taking the human capital dimension of its carbon neutrality commitments. According to a statement from the organizer, the Korea Association of Waste-to-Energy Technology (KAWET), the program was sponsored by the Ministry of Climate, Energy and Environment (MCEE) and hosted by the Sudokwon Landfill Site Management Corporation. The
UNJournal Kayla Lee | The Korean-German Chamber of Commerce and Industry (KGCCI), the second-largest foreign chamber of commerce in Korea, announced on February 26 that its Women in Korea (WIR) program and the Korean National Council of Women (KNCW) signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) to strengthen cooperation in advancing women’s leadership and fostering inclusive professional networks. The agreement formalizes collaboration in areas that include women's leadership mentoring, joint initiatives, information exchange, and participation in flagship programs such as WIR and the 2026 Joint
UNJournal Kayla Lee | On February 25 at 2:30 p.m., the 2026 Korea Masters Invitational Exhibition officially kicked off in Insadong with an awards ceremony and Hanbok fashion show. "A place where tradition and modernity, recorded history and personal memories meet," is how Chairman of the Organizing Committee Lee Jon-young described the exhibition. Lee is also publisher of Diplomacy Journal. This description is particularly fitting for the works of calligrapher and painter Yoo Hyeon Byeong. Three distinct series by Yoo are presented in this exhibition. His ho (號)—artistic sobriquet—"Bamgugyeon
UNJournal Jon Lee | Multiple Korean news outlets are covering contradictory statements released by the offices of U.S. Forces Korea (USFK) Commander General Xavier Brunson and the Republic of Korea's Ministry of National Defense (MND). According to a February 25 Korea Times article, the controversy arose "from a large-scale U.S. Forces Korea (USFK) drill conducted Feb. 18 and 19 from Osan Air Base, during which U.S. fighter jets carried out more than 100 sorties over waters west of the Korean Peninsula. Chinese warplanes also scrambled in response, leading to a short aerial standoff between th
UNJournal Kayla Lee | On February 26, the Embassy of the Republic of Azerbaijan to the Republic of Korea (ERA) and the DGIEA Korea–Azerbaijan Association held the Third Symposium dedicated to the 34th anniversary of the Khojaly Genocide. "On the night of 25–26 February 1992, Armenia's armed forces attacked the town of Khojaly and perpetrated mass atrocities against the Azerbaijani civilian population," the Embassy explained in a post-symposium statement. "During the bloodshed, 613 people — including 63 children, 106 women, and 70 elderly persons — were killed with particular cruelty" — with an
UNJournal Kayla Lee | The Korean-German Chamber of Commerce and Industry (KGCCI), the second-largest foreign chamber of commerce in Korea, announced on February 26 that its Women in Korea (WIR) program and the Korean National Council of Women (KNCW) signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) to strengthen cooperation in advancing women’s leadership and fostering inclusive professional networks. The agreement formalizes collaboration in areas that include women's leadership mentoring, joint initiatives, information exchange, and participation in flagship programs such as WIR and the 2026 Joint