Park to replace China envoy soon
By Yi Whan-woo
Kwon Young-se
Korea will replace its ambassador to China Kwon Young-se, according to a government source, Thursday.
The source said his successor is yet to be named, although it added a “high-profile figure” is slated for the post.
Kwon, 55, has been serving as the country’s top envoy to China since June 2013.
He served three consecutive terms at the National Assembly from 2000 to May 2012, and worked as a chief strategist for then-presidential candidate Park Geun-hye in the December 2012 election.
President Park has recently sought to reshuffle her Cabinet members as well as presidential secretaries. Observers have speculated Kwon could be named as the presidential chief of staff or the unification minister.
Kwon’s replacement will take place amid the government’s routine reshuffle of overseas envoys.
On Thursday, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs said it nominated seven officials for posts at its embassies and consulates in the United States, Canada, Japan and Singapore.
They included Han Hye-jin, the ministry’s deputy spokeswoman. She was nominated as consul general at the consulate in Sapporo, Japan.
Han, a former journalist, joined the ministry in 2011. She is the first non-career diplomat to be nominated as a consul general after the government opened its door to those other than civil servants.