South Korea’s Lee seeks to send special envoys to China, US, Japan in July: media
South Korean President Lee Jae-myung is mulling sending special envoys to key nations this month, including China, the US, and Japan, announced the presidential office, Yonhap News Agency reported.
"It is true the government is seeking to dispatch special envoys to major nations," the presidential office said in a notice, without providing further details, citing ongoing consultations with counterparts, per Yonhap.
A presidential official said the government plans to appoint special envoys, who can appropriately explain the new government's governing philosophy and foreign policy agenda, Yonhap reported.
Maeil Business Newspaper reported that Park Byung-seok, former chairman of the National Assembly who served as chairman of the National Assembly in the first half of the 21st National Assembly, is known to be a strong candidate for China's special envoy. Park, a former journalist, is a heavyweight politician who served as a Hong Kong correspondent and served as a six-term lawmaker after entering politics.
According to Yonhap, the presidential office is reviewing a plan that includes sending envoys to 10 countries, including the European Union, Australia, Canada, France and India, as part of broader diplomatic outreach efforts. And the move is seen as an effort to lay the groundwork for summit diplomacy by sending special envoys who can brief on Lee's state affairs policy and deliver friendly messages to widen exchange.
The presidential office is also reportedly considering whether to send a special envoy to Russia amid Moscow's growing military ties with North Korea, per Yonhap.
According to Yonhap, former President Yoon Suk-yeol dispatched policy consultation delegations to the US and Japan after he was elected.
Former President Moon Jae-in had sent special envoys to the US, China, Japan, Russia and the EU early in his presidency, while his predecessor Park Geun-hye dispatchedspecial envoys to the US and China following her election.