Seoul: Ro Jae-hun, the son of former President Roh Tae-woo, has officially taken up the role of South Korea's ambassador to China, as announced by the foreign ministry on Thursday. Ro, who also serves as the chairman of the East Asia Culture Center, becomes the first top envoy to Beijing under the administration of Lee Jae Myung, which commenced in June.
According to Yonhap News Agency, Ro's appointment fills a critical diplomatic vacancy that had persisted since the departure of former Ambassador Chung Jae-ho in January. Chung had served under the previous Yoon Suk Yeol government. As he assumes his duties in Beijing, Ro is anticipated to focus on coordinating with Chinese officials regarding the expected visit of Chinese President Xi Jinping to South Korea for the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation forum later this month.
The selection of Ro Jae-hun is seen as a strategic decision that reflects his influential family background. His father, Roh Tae-woo, who was president from 1988 to 1993, is noted for his "Northern Policy," which aimed to foster relationships with socialist countries that were traditionally aligned with North Korea. During Roh's presidency, South Korea established diplomatic relations with the Soviet Union in 1990 and China in 1992, while also normalizing ties with Eastern European countries like Hungary and Poland.
At 60 years old, Ro Jae-hun has been actively involved in numerous initiatives, both government-led and within the private sector, that seek to enhance relations with China. In late August, Ro was among the special presidential envoys dispatched to Beijing, further underscoring his commitment to strengthening bilateral ties.