By UN Journal Lee Kap-soo “Ecuador is truly a gem in the heart of South America and offers an incredible variety of attractions that appeal to all kinds of travelers. Whether you are drawn to tropical beaches, majestic mountains, rich rainforests, or unique islands, Ecuador has it all—often described as offering four worlds,” said Ambassador Patricio Esteban Troya Suárez of Ecuador to South Korea on June 23. In an exclusive interview with the Diplomacy Journal held at the Embassy of Ecuador in Jongno-gu, Seoul, Amb. Suarez said, “The coastal region is a tropical paradise with stunning beaches
By UN Journal Kayla Lee UN Secretary-General António Guterres said on June 18 that he remains “profoundly alarmed” by the ongoing military escalation between Israel and Iran, as the sides continued to trade airstrikes, the UN News reported. “I reiterate my call for immediate de-escalation leading to a ceasefire,” Mr. Guterres said in a statement in which he strongly appealled against any further internationalization of the conflict. “Any additional military interventions could have enormous consequences, not only for those involved but for the whole region and for international peace and secu
By UN Journal Lee Kap-soo “Turkmenistan is home to a wealth of stunning natural landmarks. The picturesque landscapes of the Kopetdag Mountains, the diverse flora and fauna of the Karakum Desert, the banks of the Amu Darya River, Koytendag, the subtropical regions of southwestern Turkmenistan,” said H.E. Begench Durdyyev, Ambassador of Turkmenistan to the Republic of Korea. In an exclusive interview with the Diplomacy Journal held at the Embassy of Turkmenistan in Yonsan-gu, Seoul on June 12, Amb. Durdyyev said, “The Turkmen coast of the Caspian Sea, particularly the "Avaza" resort, are all ma
By UN Journal Lee Jon-young President Lee Jae-myung, who arrived in Canada to attend the G7 summit, held consecutive meetings with the South African president and Australian prime minister. President Lee Jae-myung held a summit meeting with South African President Cyril Ramaphosa at around 2:40 p.m. of June 16 (local time). South Africa was invited to the G7 summit as an observer country, along with South Korea, India, Australia, Brazil, Mexico, and Ukraine. President Lee then held a summit meeting with Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese at a hotel in Calgary, Canada, at around 3:30 p.
By UN Journal Kayla Lee Korean Ambassador for Climate Change Chung Kee-yong attended the 3rd UN Ocean Conference held in Nice, France from June 9 to 13 (local time) as the alternate chief representative and emphasized the Korean government's policy of linking climate and ocean issues and its willingness to cooperate internationally, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs announced on June 15. The 3rd UN Ocean Conference was held under the theme of “Accelerating action and mobilizing all actors to conserve and sustainably use the oceans.” Approximately 15,000 people, including heads of state from 75 c
UNJournal Jon Lee | President Lee Jae-myung will visit Canada for three days and one night starting on June 16 to attend the G7 summit. This will be his first overseas visit in about 10 days since taking office. National Security Advisor Wi Sung-lac explained the significance of President Lee's attendance at the G7 Summit and the main schedule during a briefing on the morning of June 15. Wi said, “This schedule began with Canada's invitation to South Korea, demonstrating that the G7 has high expectations for South Korea, an economic powerhouse that has shown the strength of democracy, and the
By UN Journal Lee Kap-soo The following article is the excerpts from the statement by President of Kazakhstan Kassym-Jomart Tokayev at the Astana International Forum, which was released by the Embassy of Kazakhstan in Seoul to the Diplomacy Journal for publication. –Ed. Kazakhstan approaches today’s turbulent world with a spirit of constructive engagement. Our foreign policy is based on the belief that dialogue is more powerful than division, and that sovereign rights must be respected. There should be no room for nationalistic hubris and ignorance of historic and cultural traditions of the pe
By UN Journal Lee Jon-young President Lee Jae-myung's new administration has been launched with great momentum. In his inaugural address, Lee promised to be a government that protects the lives of the people, saying, “I will prioritize the livelihoods and economy of the people,” and clearly expressed his determination to unite the people by saying, “I will be the president of all the people.” This commitment can serve as a starting point for our society to come together again and paint a new hope for the future. Immediately after its launch, the new government will demonstrate its presence on
UNJournal Jon Lee | President Lee Jae-myung spoke with Chinese President Xi Jinping by phone on June 10, 2025, China's state-run Xinhua news agency reported. Chinese President Xi Jinping emphasized a partnership for strategic cooperation during his first phone conversation with President Lee Jae-myung. This is the third time President Lee has held a phone conversation with a foreign leader since taking office, following conversations with US President Donald Trump on June 6 and Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba the day before. According to China's state-run Xinhua News Agency, Xi congratu
UNJournal Jon Lee | From June 5 to 8, 2025, Almaty proudly represented Kazakhstan at one of Asia’s largest tourism exhibitions — the Seoul International Tourism Fair (SITF 2025) in Seoul. The booth of Kazakhstan’s southern capital drew significant attention from visitors and industry experts, and was ultimately awarded the honorary title of “The Best Booth Design of SITF 2025.” Visitors had the chance to experience the vibrant spirit of Kazakh culture and the essence of Almaty through a dynamic and interactive program, including: • Live performances of traditional Kazakh music by dombra player
By UN Journal Kayla Lee In the 1984 Los Angeles Olympics, a South Korean man fearlessly defeated Japan, the world's strongest team, and won a gold medal in judo, raising the flag of hope for South Korea. He was Ha Hyung-joo, known as the “Star of the Nation.” At the end of last year, he was selected as a South Korean sports hero and inducted into the Hall of Fame, demonstrating the significant impact he has had on South Korean sports. His victory was not simply about winning a medal. It was a spark that boosted the morale of the Korean people and a symbol of national joy that turned around the
By UN Journal Kayla Lee The Busan International Boat Show cohosted by the Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries, Busan Metropolitan City is set to return in April 2026 in Busan, Korea’s leading marine city. The event will offer a wide range of activities and hands-on experience marine leisure programs, already creating a buzz among industry professionals and tourists alike. The last show, held in April 2025, concluded successfully with 140 participating companies and 800 booths. It showcased a variety of marine leisure products and activities like surfing, SUP, diving, fishing, and maritime safety
By UN Journal Kayla Lee With the election of Lee Jae-myung of the Democratic Party as the 21st president, South Korea has seen a power transition after three years. As of 2:30 a.m. on June 4, with 97% of the votes counted, Lee Jae-myung had secured 48.8% of the vote, effectively securing his election, which corresponds to approximately 16,012,000 votes. Kim Moon-soo of the People Power Party came in second with 42.1% of the vote. This presidential election was the second early presidential election held against the backdrop of unprecedented political turmoil, including the first state of emerg
By UN Journal Lee Kap-soo Newly-elected President Lee Jae-myung said at his inauguration ceremony held at the Rotunda Hall of the National Assembly on the morning of June 4, “We will turn the crisis of global economic and security environment transformation into an opportunity to maximize national interests through practical diplomacy centered on national interests.” He also said, “Based on the solid ROK-U.S. alliance, we will strengthen ROK-U.S.-Japan cooperation and approach relations with neighboring countries from the perspective of national interests and practicality. We will broaden the
By UN Journal Lee Kap-soo “Filipinos and Koreans share a common love for family and festivals or festivities where the family gathers together. Many of these festivities involve both the preparation of and the enjoyment of traditional food which we also share,” said Ambassador Theresa Dizon-de Vega of the Philippines to Korea on May 26, 2025. In an exclusive interview with the Diplomacy Journal at the Embassy of the Philippines in Yongsan-gu, Seoul, Amb. Dizon-de Vega said, “There are just some differences in the way we prepare them. I often focus more on similarities between the Philippines a