President Park Geun-hye instructed Korean ambassadors Tuesday to be faithful to their “original duty” rather than “receiving guests from home.”
The unexpected comment reflects the serious situation in which embassy staffers have to spend half, even more, of their time, greeting and guiding VIPs from Korea ― ranking officials of the foreign ministry, lawmakers, etc. One ambassador said he received guests from home on 100 occasions a year.
Actually, it has long been “common sense” among frequent fliers on official business that the main duty of overseas diplomatic missions is dining and wining influential visitors instead of providing proper consular services for Korean nationals or efficiently representing the home country to their host nations.
The reason: these diplomats, who are preoccupied with gaining promotion at home or relocating to posts in more advanced countries, have to win the favor of the visiting bigwigs. Some officials stationed in less desirable locations reportedly are not doing their best for fear of being forced to stay there for long periods. It may be difficult to expect diplomats to sacrifice themselves for national interests, but these officials are going too far.
President Park should tell public figures to behave themselves when abroad. Some reportedly demand the use of embassy vehicles for personal purposes and others call ambassadors to airports to kill time during their wait for transfers.
What the ministry should do is also clear. First, it should produce a manual, which meticulously stipulates the level and criteria of guests to be received. Second, it should conduct fairer and more objective personnel management based on performance and outcome rather than personal ties and private requests.
Reports say Korea’s resources diplomacy has hit a snag recently. It is small surprise if the nation’s diplomats keep doing what they are doing while their Chinese and Japanese counterparts are toiling in tough, remote locations for their national interests.