Envoy to US offers to resign
By Park Si-soo
Korean Ambassador to the United States Han Duck-soo has offered to resign, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade (MOFAT) said Thursday.
“Ambassador Han expressed his intention to resign earlier in the day,” MOFAT spokesman Cho Byung-jae told reporters. President Lee Myung-bak is expected to accept his resignation, he added.
Earlier Han had said that he would resign when the country’s free trade agreement with the United States was concluded.
Despite this, his resignation sparked speculation due to its sudden nature. As an ambassador, Han was scheduled to meet reporters next week when Korean envoys from around the world are to gather in Seoul for an annual conference. He cancelled interviews.
Sources said Han will assume chairmanship of the Korea International Trade Association (KITA) after leaving the ambassadorial post.
According to Cheong Wa Dae, President Lee has begun reviewing several candidates to replace Han. Those reportedly included in the process are Chun Young-woo, the top presidential national security advisor; Hyun In-taek, former unification minister; and Sakong Il, the current chairman of KITA.
Han, a former prime minister and finance minister, took up the post in February 2009 to make a breakthrough in the then stalled dialogue concerning the FTA with the U.S. The trade deal was endorsed in both countries late last year and will likely be implemented in March at the latest.
Han has been in Seoul since early this week and plans to return to the U.S. on Friday to officially bid farewell to U.S. officials, MOFAT said.