President Moon Urges Support for Yoo Myung-hee as WTO Director-General in Meeting with Ambassadors to Korea

All-Out Effort for Normal Diplomacy

President Moon Jae-in is seen encouraging Foreign Minister Kang Kyung-wha to change seats before taking a commemorative photo with Zakaria Hamed Hilal Al Saadi, the newly appointed Ambassador of Oman to Korea, at the credential presentation ceremony for new ambassadors held at the Blue House on the morning of the 16th.

President Moon Jae-in, who is making an all-out diplomatic effort to support Yoo Myung-hee, the Chief Trade Negotiator of the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy, who advanced to the final round of the World Trade Organization (WTO) Secretary-General election, also requested support for Secretary-General Yoo while receiving credentials from ambassadors to Korea on the 16th.

President Moon said during a reception following the credential presentation ceremony for six ambassadors to Korea held at the Blue House that day, "I would like to especially ask for continuous interest and support for Korea's Yoo Myung-hee, Chief Trade Negotiator, who is challenging the WTO Secretary-General position with a vision of WTO reform, restoration of the multilateral trading system centered on the WTO, and inclusive growth," according to Blue House spokesperson Kang Min-seok.

The ambassadors to Korea who presented their credentials to President Moon that day were Michael Reiffenstuel, Ambassador of Germany; Nguyen Vu Tung, Ambassador of Vietnam; Wolfgang Angerholzer, Ambassador of Austria; Gloria Sid Carre?o, Ambassador of Chile; Mumtaz Zahra Baloch, Ambassador of Pakistan; and Al Saadi Zakariya Hamed Hilal, Ambassador of Oman. After receiving credentials from these ambassadors, President Moon took commemorative photos and held a reception.

At the event, President Moon said, "I sincerely welcome your appointment as ambassadors to Korea," adding, "As close international cooperation and solidarity are required to overcome COVID-19, your roles have become even more important." He continued, "I hope you will work together not only to strengthen friendly relations between Korea and your home countries but also to respond to COVID-19, economic recovery, and climate change."

Following President Moon’s remarks, the six new ambassadors responded with the intention to develop cooperative relations with Korea.

In response, President Moon said, "Thank you for your kind words," and added, "Once again, I welcome your appointment and hope for many achievements in the development of bilateral relations during your service in Korea."

President Moon especially introduced a Korean saying, "Bongjesa Jeobbingaek (奉祭祀 接賓客)," explaining, "It means that hosting visiting guests is regarded as importantly as performing ancestral rites."

He continued, "Korea has a tradition of welcoming and hospitably treating guests," and concluded the reception by saying, "Korean hospitality is generous, so please experience much of Korea’s warm-heartedness."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.