Virtually vacant positions such as ambassadors to China, Saudi Arabia, and Indonesia
Following the suspension of President Yoon Seok-yeol, the appointment of ambassadors to foreign countries, which had been conducted targeting President Yoon’s ‘close associates’, is virtually being canceled. On the 18th, observations were also raised that the other countries felt burdened by the appointment of the relevant figures amidst the martial law situation and the ensuing impeachment situation.
Former Chief of Staff Kim Dae-ki, who was nominated as Ambassador to China, has already received an agrement (consent to the appointment) from China, but it is being pointed out that the meaning of the ‘President’s close associate’ going to China has disappeared in this situation.
First of all, for the final appointment of an ambassador, the appointment of an ambassador must pass the Cabinet meeting. Afterwards, former Chief Kim must go through the enactment process of receiving a letter of credential from Acting President Han Deok-soo and submitting it to Chinese President Xi Jinping.
However, considering the importance of the ambassador to China, one of the ‘four major powers’, there are voices in the diplomatic community that say it is not reasonable for President Yoon to take office in a situation where his duties are expected to be suspended for several months. In addition, as the general consensus is that the acting president should exercise the authority of the actual president at the level of ‘maintaining the status quo’, there are voices that say it is inappropriate to award credentials to ambassadors from the four powerful countries. Some are even raising the possibility that former Chief Kim will resign voluntarily.
An official from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs said, “If it had been the same in the past, there would have been an alternative, but in this case, it has become even more difficult to assess because there are political issues at stake.”
The appointment of Lee Seo-hyun, a former North Korean defector who is known to have been chosen by First Lady Kim Kun-hee, as ambassador for North Korean human rights is also understood to be on hold. Mr. Lee was verified as the Ambassador for International Cooperation for North Korean Human Rights, which is the external official position of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. In a situation where the appointment could not proceed quickly due to opposition from some in the North Korean defector community, there are speculations that it will be difficult for Mr. Lee to be appointed as North Korean human rights ambassador as we enter a political situation of martial law and impeachment.
The position of ambassador to Saudi Arabia also ‘unexpectedly’ became vacant in the aftermath of martial law and impeachment. When former Minister Kim Yong-hyun resigned due to martial law, President Yoon immediately nominated Ambassador to Saudi Arabia Choi Byeong-hyuk, a graduate of the Military Academy, as the new Minister of National Defense. However, as former Ambassador Choi recently declined to become minister, the position of Saudi ambassador became vacant. It has been confirmed that former Ambassador Choi Byung-hyuk is currently on standby at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs headquarters.
Former Minister of Trade, Industry and Energy Bang-gyu Bang, who was nominated as ambassador to Indonesia, was selected as the successor to former Ambassador Lee Sang-deok (currently the head of the Overseas Koreans Office) after failing to run in the general election last April, but has not even received an agrément from his country yet.
It is not unheard of in the past for an ambassador to be appointed in a system where the prime minister served as acting president. However, in the case of appointing President Yoon’s close associates, political burdens may also arise, leading to speculation that the gap in some ambassador positions will be prolonged for some time.
(Seoul = News 1)
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