President Lee Myung-bak gave credentials Friday to 17 newly appointed diplomatic mission chiefs, including ambassadors to Britain, India and Germany, asking them to work proactively in tandem with Korea's enhanced international profile.
"There is not a single nation we can treat lightly whether they are Britain or (countries) in South America or Africa," Lee said during the ceremony. "Besides taking care of relations with host nations, I hope you will play comprehensive roles befitting the enhanced international profile of our country."
Lee also asked the new ambassadors to look proactively for roles they can play to contribute to national interests, instead of just carrying out instructions from the home country, according to presidential spokeswoman Lee Mi-yon.
In a reshuffle announced earlier this week, former First Vice Foreign Minister Park Suk-hwan was appointed ambassador to Britain while Lee Joon-gyu, who served as head of the ministry-affiliated Institute of Foreign Affairs and National Security, was named ambassador to India.
Former Deputy Foreign Minister Kim Jae-shin was appointed to head the embassy in Germany and Lee Hyuk, the former chief of the foreign ministry's planning and coordination division, was appointed as ambassador to the Philippines, replacing Lee Hye-min, who will move to become ambassador to France. (Yonhap)