Book launch highlights Korea-EU ties, geopolitics

EU Ambassador to Korea Maria Castillo Fernandez speaks during a book launch event at the EU Delegation office in Seoul, Tuesday. Korea Times photo by Kim Hyun-bin

Former Korean Ambassador to the European Union Kim Hyoung-zhin introduced his new book titled “Why is the EU Not Prominently Visible in Korea’s Diplomacy?” at a book launch event Tuesday at the EU Delegation in Seoul. The event drew senior diplomats, foreign envoys, government officials and scholars involved in Korea-Europe relations.

Opening the event, EU Ambassador to Korea Maria Castillo Fernandez warmly praised Kim as a “dear friend and trusted companion” throughout her five years in Korea. She recalled their first meeting in Seoul and how insights from their ongoing conversations enriched her understanding of Korea’s complex diplomatic landscape.

“I’m really very pleased to have Ambassador Kim Hyoung-zhin with us today,” Ambassador Fernandez said. “He was one of the first persons I met when I arrived, coming also from Brussels. We met at the Seoul Metropolitan Office, where ambassadors often gather. Over the years, he has been one of my closest friends within government and beyond, always sharing wisdom and a nuanced perspective on Korea and Europe.”

The ambassador emphasized Kim’s rare expertise, noting that his extensive experience in the US, China, Japan, and Europe uniquely positions him as the ideal figure to discuss Korea’s relationship with the EU objectively and in depth.

Ambassador Fernandez highlighted a key theme of Kim’s book: the “Brussels effect,” referring to the EU’s significant global regulatory influence, which Kim argues Korea should engage with more strategically. She also touched on the persistent challenge of the EU’s low visibility in Korea’s diplomatic agenda. “When new ambassadors arrive or colleagues come here, they often ask: ‘What is the EU’s role in Korea?’ We feel frustrated by the lack of prominence Europe has at the high diplomatic level,” she said. “Kim’s book is a timely contribution to changing that perception.”

Former Korean Ambassador to the European Union Kim Hyoung-zhin speaks during his book launch event at the EU Delegation office in Seoul, Tuesday. Korea Times photo by Kim Hyun-bin

Following the ambassador’s remarks, Lim Hyong-tae, director-general for European affairs at Ministry of Foreign Affairs, praised the book as “insightful, earnest and very friendly.” Lim noted the strong strategic partnership between Korea and the EU, founded on shared democratic values, human rights and the rule of law. He highlighted areas of cooperation that have expanded recently, including trade, climate change, digital innovation and security.

“Yet,” Lim said, “there remains a perceptual gap. The book offers valuable ideas on how to make our partnership more visible and vibrant.” He also referenced recent efforts by the former Yoon Suk Yeol administration to deepen ties with Europe, including dispatching a presidential special envoy to European capitals and boosting cultural exchanges.

In his presentation, Kim underscored the EU’s extensive diplomatic presence in North Korea, with 25 of 27 EU member states maintaining relations and six embassies in Pyongyang. He lauded the 2010 Korea-EU free trade agreement as a milestone in bilateral ties and urged Seoul to expand cooperation on global regulatory issues such as data protection and tax policy.

The book launch event closed with a Q&A and networking session.