Moon's special envoy to Russia stirs speculations of political comeback

Former Ambassador to Russia Yoo Yoon-keun embarks on a trip to Russia Sunday as President Moon Jae-in's special envoy to discuss high-level exchanges and other key bilateral issues. Yonhap

Reports say Cheong Wa Dae is pursuing ruling party veteran as next chief of staff

By Do Je-hae

Cheong Wa Dae's announcement to send ruling party heavyweight Woo Yoon-keun as a presidential envoy to Moscow next week is raising speculations that the former three-term lawmaker could soon be making a political comeback, possibly as the next presidential chief of staff. Woo has stayed out of politics following his service as Moon's first ambassador to Russia from October 2017 through June 2019.

Woo's Russia visit is expected to be centered around a possible visit by Russian President Vladimir Putin to Korea next year and other ways to deepen bilateral ties.

“To mark the 30th anniversary of Korea-Russia diplomatic relations this year, the government will send Woo to Russia as a presidential envoy from Dec. 13 to 19 to explore ways to develop bilateral relations. The former ambassador to Russia will convey our government's firm commitment to the development of bilateral relations and discuss ways to promote friendly cooperation between the two countries,” presidential spokesperson Kang Min-seok said in a statement, Friday.

One of the key topics to be discussed during Woo's visit to Russia is the high-level exchanges between the two countries. President Moon spoke on the phone with Russian President Vladimir Putin on Sept. 28, ahead of the 30th anniversary of the establishment of bilateral relations on Sept. 30, 1990. During the call, Moon invited Putin to Korea, and Putin showed anticipation for the visit, saying he will go to Korea after taking the Russian-produced vaccine, according to a statement from the presidential office after their call. “With this visit to Russia, we will examine the implementation of follow-up measures on the call between the two countries in September and exchange views on ways to promote high-level exchanges,” Kang said.

Woo will also discuss the security situation on the Korean Peninsula and seek Russia's constructive role and continued cooperation in the denuclearization and the establishment of permanent peace.

Cheong Wa Dae has hinted at an additional reshuffle of the Cabinet in coming weeks. It is expected that the President will also replace his long-running chief of staff Noh Young-min, who is nearing two years in office. Woo is expected to report to Moon after returning from Russia.

The presidential office, however, has denied reports that it is actively pursuing Woo as a replacement for its chief of staff. A local daily reported earlier this week that first lady Kim Jung-sook had met with Woo's wife and tried to convince her to persuade her husband to accept Cheong Wa Dae's offer. “The first lady has never been involved in personnel affairs,” Chung Man-ho, senior presidential secretary for public communication, told reporters. “The report is absolutely untrue. No such meeting ever took place.”

But speculations continue to rise regarding the possibility of Woo joining Cheong Wa Dae as Moon's likely last chief of staff, given his special ties to the President and his record with the Assembly. Woo led Moon's first presidential campaign in 2012 and served as the 30th secretary-general of the Assembly's secretariat in 2016. He is considered to enjoy sound relations across parties. The ability to communicate with the opposition is being highlighted as a crucial qualification of the next chief of staff, given the rising conflict between Cheong Wa Dae and the main opposition People Power Party (PPP).

Aside from Woo, former Interior Minister Kim Boo-kyum and senior presidential secretary for political affairs Choi Jae-sung are also being mentioned as possible replacements for the chief of staff.