After months of political tumult and democratic uncertainty, South Korea’s new president has begun dispatching special envoys across the globe, seeking to both redefine Seoul’s foreign policy and restore the nation’s international standing.
President Lee Jae-myung’s first batch of emissaries was sent to the European Union, France, Britain and India, the presidential office announced on July 13 – a move analysts see as his administration’s opening gambit to strengthen both bilateral and multilateral relations.
Within a week, additional envoys were appointed to Canada and Malaysia, according to the Yonhap news agency.
The diplomatic surge is set to continue, with further envoys to be dispatched to Poland, Vietnam, Australia and Germany by the turn of the month, carrying personal letters from Lee and tasked with exploring avenues for deeper cooperation.
In total, 14 envoys – more than under any previous government – will be sent abroad to articulate the administration’s foreign policy vision and state philosophy, South Korean media reported.
