President’s pick for new envoy to UN raises eyebrows

Cha Ji-hoon, Korea's new ambassador to the United Nations / Yonhap

President Lee Jae Myung’s decision to tap a lawyer with scant diplomatic experience as Korea’s next ambassador to the United Nations raised eyebrows in diplomatic circles, where the post is considered one of the country’s most visible and influential assignments.

Lee appointed on Monday Cha Ji-hoon, a senior attorney at Hwawoo law firm, to lead the diplomatic mission to the New York-based international organization.

Cha will assume the post immediately, as unlike other ambassadorial appointments, the U.N. posting does not require the host country’s prior approval.

Born in 1963 in Suncheon, South Jeolla Province, Cha built his career with Minbyun, a progressive lawyers’ group, and has served on several government legal advisory panels.

But his resume is thin on multilateral diplomacy, a gap that stands out given that the U.N. ambassadorship has often been a stepping stone for senior diplomatic figures. Both Foreign Minister Cho Hyun and his predecessor Cho Tae-yul previously served as envoy to the U.N.

Some critics are scrutinizing Cha’s close personal ties with the president.

The two entered the Judicial Research and Training Institute in the same year. Cha joined Lee’s legal defense team in 2020 when, as governor of Gyeonggi Province, he stood on trial for alleged violation of election law. The Supreme Court later overturned a guilty verdict and returned the case to an appeals court, effectively acquitting Lee.

Observers in diplomatic and foreign policy circles are questioning Cha’s ability to lead the U.N. mission amid Korea’s rising profile on the international stage.

"It is true that the U.N.’s standing has somewhat weakened in recent years, but the envoy post is still considered the pinnacle of multilateral diplomacy," said a former diplomat who served Korea’s mission to the U.N.

"Beyond speeches and debates, much more takes place behind the scenes. Also, maintaining relations with diplomats from other countries demands both skill and deep knowledge of international affairs," he added.

People walk past U.N. headquarters in Manhattan in New York, Sept. 9 (local time). AFP-Yonhap

Rep. Kim Gunn of the main opposition People Power Party criticized the appointment as "irresponsible."

"Until now, most ambassadors tasked with multilateral diplomacy have been career diplomats. Even those who served as career diplomats have often said the job at the U.N. was extremely difficult," the diplomat-turned-lawmaker said in a radio interview with Channel A Monday.

Cha’s diplomatic ability is expected to face an early test as Korea holds the rotating presidency of the U.N. Security Council this month. The new envoy is also expected to accompany the president to New York next week for the high-level session of the U.N. General Assembly.

Meanwhile, the Lee administration is accelerating appointments of new envoys to the United States, China, Japan and Russia — countries central to Korea’s foreign policy and regional strategy.

Roh Jae-heon, son of former President Roh Tae-woo, has reportedly been nominated as Korea’s next ambassador to China, according to diplomatic sources. Lee Seok-bae, who served as ambassador to Russia under the Moon Jae-in administration, is expected to return to that post.

The reports follow last month’s news that former Foreign Minister Kang Kyung-wha is awaiting host country approval to serve as ambassador to the United States, while Lee Hyuk, a former envoy to Vietnam, is reported to have been nominated as ambassador to Japan.