I am an editorial writer at The Korea Times, focusing on foreign policy, North Korea and domestic politics. My key areas of interest include North Korea, foreign interference in elections, election integrity, cyberattacks and human rights. Prior to joining the Editorial Board, I served as both Politics Desk editor and Culture Desk editor. During my career, I have reported on the Presidential Office under the Lee Myung-bak administration, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the National Assembly.
Hearing on plan to select diplomats due today
By Kang Hyun-kyung
Staff reporter
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade will hold a hearing to fine tune the government proposal to select people for diplomatic posts at the Institute of Foreign Affairs and National Security in Seoul today.
A group of experts, including Rep. Park Sun-young of the Liberty Forward Party and various political scientists, were invited to the event to give their opinions and make comments on the initial plan, which was unveiled in May.
The new recruitment plan will replace the decades-old state-run exam to select entry-level diplomats which was first introduced in 1968.
The ministry will revise the proposal by addressing the points made by the experts at the hearing. The amendment plan is scheduled to be submitted to the National Assembly by the end of the year after being approval by the Cabinet.
It said the first group of “selectively chosen” diplomats who will complete a one-year training program will join the ministry from December 2013.
Under the plan, about 20 percent of the finalists will be chosen from among those who command foreign languages fluently.
Regional experts or specialists in the areas of energy, trade, environment, development and international relations will make up another 20 percent of the finalists.
Successful candidates will be chosen through three rounds in the selection process.
First, the ministry will choose 400 applicants, based on their credentials, academic performance and foreign language proficiency.
Those who pass the first round will be required to take written exams in the subjects of international relations, international law and economics as well as essay tests.
About 120 candidates will be chosen through the second round of selection and after the third round of face-to-face interviews, the number will be narrowed to only half of those attending the academy aimed at training career diplomats for a year.
Depending on their performance at the professional academy, five to 10 further candidates may be eliminated.