 |
| From left are Hong Seok-hyun, Lee Hae-chan, Moon Hee-sang and Song Young-gil, who were named special envoys to the U.S., China, Japan and Russia, respectively. / Yonhap |
By Kim Rahn
President Moon Jae-in will send special envoys to the United States, China, Japan and Russia as early as this week, Cheong Wa Dae said Monday.
"Moon has appointed the envoys, and we are talking with the countries about their dispatch," said Yoon Young-chan, senior presidential secretary for public relations affairs. "They will start leaving for the respective countries as soon as discussions are completed."
Each envoy will deliver a personal letter from Moon to the head of each country and meet high-ranking officials there for talks over issues affecting South Korea, such as North Korean provocations.
Hong Seok-hyun, former chairman of the JoongAng Media Network, was named special envoy to the U.S. "Hong was ambassador to Washington in 2005. He is well aware of the country's affairs and has established a wide network there," Cheong Wa Dae said in a statement.
Former Prime Minister Lee Hae-chan will head to China. "He had experience as a special envoy during the former Roh Moo-hyun administration. He has abundant experience about China," the presidential office noted.
Rep. Moon Hee-sang from the ruling Democratic Party of Korea (DPK), a former National Assembly vice speaker, will be sent to Japan. He was head of the federation of Korean and Japanese lawmakers between 2004 and 2008.
Rep. Song Young-gil, also from the DPK, will go to Russia. The former Incheon mayor received the order of friendship from Russian President Vladimir Putin in 2013 for promoting friendship between the two countries, such as setting up a sister relationship between Incheon and Saint Petersburg.
Besides the four countries, Moon also named Sogang University professor Cho Yoon-je as an envoy to the European Union and Germany. Cho was former ambassador to Britain. "Including the EU and Germany on the list of envoy dispatches shows Moon's desire to expand Korea's diplomatic horizon beyond Northeast Asia and diversify diplomatic cooperation," Cheong Wa Dae said.
More lawmakers and professors will accompany them. The president will have lunch with the envoys as a symbol of their appointment.
Chief delegate meets Xi
In the meantime, Rep. Park Byeong-seug of the DPK said he met Chinese President Xi Jinping, Sunday, during his participation in the Belt and Road Forum for International Cooperation being held in Beijing.
"Xi said he was satisfied with his earlier phone conversation with Moon, adding he highly recognizes Moon's political philosophy and that they have much in common," Park said. "He stressed the importance of South Korea-China relations and said that improving them will contribute to peace not only in Asia but also the world."
China reportedly considered not inviting Seoul to the international summit to protest the deployment of a U.S. Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD) battery here, but issued an invitation following the inauguration of South Korea's new president. Seoul sent a delegation led by Park.
Park said he and Xi did not talk about the THAAD issue, adding the upcoming special envoy Lee may deal with this. "The phone conversation between Xi and Moon led to my unscheduled meeting with Xi. I believe this has signaled a breakthrough in gridlocked Seoul-Beijing relations."
![[ANALYSIS] Tesla, BYD's price cuts unnerve LGES, Samsung, SK](https://img.koreatimes.co.kr/upload/thumbnailV2/b1cf8ba68d474cb69352bfe7ea9d14f0.jpg/dims/resize/178/optimize)
![[INTERVIEW] How ATEEZ achieved worldwide success](https://img.koreatimes.co.kr/upload/thumbnailV2/c7723b56dde94eb4b260950d368fe8fb.jpg/dims/resize/178/optimize)
