Yoon's 'Top Four Special Envoys' Background and the Situation on the Korean Peninsula

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[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Yoo In-ho] President-elect Yoon Seok-yeol's consideration of dispatching special envoys to the four major powers is evidence of the difficult situation on the Korean Peninsula. Even before his inauguration, President-elect Yoon has shown his determination to resolve the tangled situation on the Korean Peninsula, including the North Korean nuclear issue, improvement of Korea-Japan relations, development of Korea-China relations, and normalization of diplomacy with Russia, based on the Korea-US alliance, which is the top priority of his foreign policy.

◆ The tangled situation on the Korean Peninsula = Among the four major powers surrounding the Korean Peninsula? the US, China, Russia, and Japan?President-elect Yoon showed the highest priority of the next administration’s foreign and security policy by having his first phone call with US President Joe Biden. This contrasts with President Moon Jae-in, who, after his election in May 2017, made a phone call to then-US President Donald Trump about 22 hours later. President-elect Yoon was originally scheduled to speak with President Biden on the 11th, but the call was moved up at the US side’s request. This is interpreted as both President-elect Yoon and President Biden sharing the need to strengthen the Korea-US alliance.

President-elect Yoon is expected to concretize the policy direction for strengthening the Korea-US alliance through the first Korea-US summit meeting during his term in May. With President Biden’s visit to Korea anticipated in late May, there is a high possibility that the first Korea-US summit will be held within less than a month after the new government’s launch (May 10). President-elect Yoon’s early consideration of dispatching a US special envoy is also due to the possibility of holding this ‘big event’ of the Korea-US summit.

However, the situation on the Korean Peninsula remains difficult. North Korea recently launched two medium-range ballistic missile (MRBM)-class projectiles, claiming they were tests for reconnaissance satellite development, and signs of resumed activity at the Yongbyon and Punggye-ri nuclear test sites have been detected.

Some express concerns that unlike the Moon administration, which attempted ‘balanced diplomacy’ between the US and China, the new government’s focus solely on strengthening the Korea-US alliance could destabilize relations with China. If efforts to strengthen the Korea-US alliance include joining the Quad and additional deployment of THAAD, Korea-China relations could reach an irreversible state.

Korea-Japan relations are also difficult to improve due to historical issues. Japan is using unresolved historical issues as a pretext to refuse even to meet the Korean ambassador. Korea-Russia relations have cooled due to Korea’s participation in sanctions against Russia following its invasion of Ukraine.

[Image source=Yonhap News]

◆ Who will be the special envoys to the four major powers? = Before his inauguration, the president-elect has sent special envoys to the four major powers surrounding the Korean Peninsula to deliver invitations to his inauguration ceremony and strengthen goodwill. The special envoys to the four major powers are usually close aides or influential figures of the president-elect, making the appointment of these envoys a matter of keen interest. When President Moon was elected and inaugurated in May 2017, he confirmed his special envoy team within five days. At that time, Hong Seok-hyun, former chairman of JoongAng Ilbo and JTBC, was sent to the US; Lee Hae-chan, former Prime Minister, to China; Moon Hee-sang, former Speaker of the National Assembly, to Japan; and Song Young-gil, leader of the Democratic Party, to Russia.

Former President Park Geun-hye dispatched Kim Moo-sung, former head of the Saenuri Party’s election committee, as a special envoy to China during her president-elect period. Earlier, former President Lee Myung-bak sent Park Geun-hye, his presidential rival, as a special envoy to China; Jeong Mong-joon and Lee Jae-oh, influential figures of the pro-Lee faction, to the US and Russia respectively; and his elder brother Lee Sang-deuk to Japan. Former President Roh Moo-hyun also sent his close aide Jeong Dae-cheol, then a senior member of the Millennium Democratic Party, as a special envoy to the US during his president-elect period.

President-elect Yoon has not yet made a decision on dispatching special envoys to the four major powers. However, based on precedent, senior lawmakers who competed with Yoon in the party or key close aides, as well as major figures who contributed to the election victory, are being considered.

For the US special envoy, lawmakers Park Jin, known for his expertise on the US within the party, and Cho Tae-yong are being mentioned. For the China special envoy, lawmaker Kwon Young-se, who served as Korea’s ambassador to China, is a strong candidate. For the Japan special envoy, it is expected that a person who competed in the presidential race will be sent. Regarding the Russia special envoy, it seems difficult to find a suitable person as Russia designated Korea as a non-friendly country on the 7th due to Korea’s participation in sanctions against Russia.

However, some speculate that the dispatch of the four major powers’ special envoys may be delayed. This is not unrelated to President-elect Yoon’s quiet approach to the transition of power.

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