ED Talent search for special envoy to US
Lee Jae Myung, right, then chairman of the Democratic Party of Korea, holds hands with Kim Chong-in, former interim leader of the People Power Party, on Sept. 12, 2024. Yonhap
President Lee should expand pool of candidates to find right person
President Lee Jae Myung is expected to send a three-member delegation to the United States later this month, likely in the fourth week of July. Given the urgency of the situation, he must exercise careful judgment in selecting the delegates. Their visit comes just ahead of the critical Aug. 1 deadline for South Korea’s tariff negotiations with the U.S.
Earlier this month, U.S. President Donald Trump sent a letter to Lee threatening to impose a 25 percent tariff on all Korean imports on Aug. 1. If implemented as scheduled, the new tariffs would further strain Korea’s export-dependent economy, which is already grappling with the effects of a global recession.
With the deadline fast approaching, time is of the essence.
The best-case scenario would be for Lee and Trump to meet for a summit before Aug. 1 and reach a mutually beneficial agreement — potentially one in which Korea offers a quid pro quo in exchange for tariff exemptions or at least reductions. However, such a summit appears unlikely, as little progress has been made in arranging one.
Given the slim prospects for a summit within this month, the responsibility of the delegation becomes even more critical. Unlike previous delegations, which often served a symbolic role following a new administration’s inauguration, this mission must produce concrete results. The delegation’s visit is far more than a diplomatic formality — it is a strategic effort to break the current impasse in bilateral relations, which have shown signs of stagnation since Lee took office on June 4.
Lee must carefully select individuals who are not only capable but also well-positioned to achieve meaningful outcomes in Washington. If necessary, he should expand the pool of candidates beyond the traditional political figures who typically make up such delegations. In the past, the act of sending a delegation was itself a statement of intent to strengthen diplomatic ties.
This time, however, intent is not enough. Lee must take a more innovative approach. He should consider including experts from diverse fields — such as business leaders and military strategists — who have strong networks in the U.S., particularly within the Trump administration.
At this pivotal moment, selecting the right delegation is not just a matter of diplomacy, but a strategic decision that could shape the trajectory of Korea-U.S. relations for years to come.
Lee has yet to announce the official lineup of the delegation to the United States. However, citing sources familiar with the selection process, several media outlets have reported that veteran politician Kim Chong-in is likely to lead the delegation as a special envoy, accompanied by two lawmakers from the ruling Democratic Party of Korea (DPK) — Reps. Lee Un-ju and Kim Woo-young.
The reported lineup has raised eyebrows among political observers.
Kim Chong-in, 85, is a seasoned figure with a long, bipartisan political career. He has served as interim leader and chief campaign strategist for both the liberal DPK and its rival, the conservative People Power Party. He holds a Ph.D. in economics from the University of Münster in Germany and worked as a senior presidential secretary for economic affairs during the Roh Tae-woo administration in the early 1990s. Despite Kim’s extensive political background, his biography reveals no meaningful connections to the United States, leading many to question why a German-educated economist would be tapped to lead a critical delegation to Washington.
Rep. Lee Un-ju, a lawyer-turned-politician, earned her master’s degree from Northwestern University Pritzker School of Law in 2003 — seemingly her only direct tie to the U.S. Similarly, Rep. Kim Woo-young previously served as a visiting fellow at the University of California, Riverside, and later worked as a presidential secretary under the Moon Jae-in administration. However, like his colleagues, his U.S. connections appear limited.
It remains unclear whether this lineup is final, but the reported choices have cast serious doubt on the decision-making behind the delegation’s formation. Critics argue that those named so far seem ill-suited for the mission, raising questions about whether they fully grasp the stakes of sending a delegation to Washington at such a critical juncture.
In the Trump era, personal diplomacy plays a pivotal role. Trump’s unique approach to diplomacy was evident in his highly publicized personal rapport with North Korean leader Kim Jong-un. In this context, forging a diplomatic breakthrough in the currently stalled South Korea-U.S. relationship — and achieving progress in tariff negotiations — requires more than protocol. It demands individuals with deep, influential ties in Washington, particularly within Trump’s inner circle.
Lee should appoint a special envoy with strong connections in Washington, preferably someone with direct access to, or influence within, the Trump administration. The figure should help convince Trump and his key advisers that the U.S. and South Korean economies are complementary, and that they stand to gain far more through cooperation than through protectionism. Lowering — or ideally eliminating — the proposed tariffs would be in the interest of both nations.