Seoul: President Lee Jae Myung is considering sending special envoys to significant countries this month, as reported by the presidential office on Friday. The nations under consideration include the United States, Japan, China, as well as several in Europe and the Indo-Pacific region.
According to Yonhap News Agency, the presidential office confirmed the government's intention to send special envoys to major countries, although specific details remain undisclosed due to ongoing discussions with foreign counterparts. The proposed plan involves dispatching envoys to 10 countries, with the European Union, Australia, Canada, France, and India on the list, as part of a broader diplomatic outreach initiative.
This initiative aims to lay a stronger foundation for summit diplomacy by deploying envoys to brief foreign leaders on President Lee's state affairs policy and convey messages of goodwill to facilitate greater exchange. A presidential official indicated that these envoys would articulate the new government's governing philosophy and foreign policy agenda effectively.
There is also consideration within the presidential office regarding the potential dispatch of a special envoy to Russia, amidst Moscow's increasing military ties with North Korea. This move follows a tradition set by former presidents, where Yoon Suk Yeol sent a policy consultation delegation to the U.S. and Japan, and Moon Jae-in dispatched special envoys to the U.S., China, Japan, Russia, and the EU. Similarly, former President Park Geun-hye had sent special envoys to the U.S. and China after her election.