Minister Won Hee-ryong Challenges for 8th Consecutive Term as ICAO Council Member

First Overseas Business Trip to Montreal, Canada

Minister of Land, Infrastructure and Transport Won Hee-ryong is attending the full meeting of the Land, Infrastructure and Transport Committee held at the National Assembly on the 5th, giving a proposal explanation. Photo by Yoon Dong-joo doso7@

[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Min-young] Won Hee-ryong, Minister of Land, Infrastructure and Transport (photo), is embarking on his first overseas business trip since taking office to secure an eighth consecutive term as a member of the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) Council. Until now, Minister Won has focused on domestic real estate issues, but this trip is expected to be a test of his diplomatic skills on the international stage as the head of the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport.

According to the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport on the 21st, Minister Won Hee-ryong will depart on the 29th to attend the 41st ICAO Assembly held in Montreal, Canada, and is scheduled to return to Korea on the 3rd of next month. Minister Won plans to form a negotiation team with the Ministry’s ICAO Strategic Planning Team to actively engage in support negotiations on-site. This trip to Canada is expected to be the first opportunity for Minister Won to demonstrate his diplomatic capabilities internationally. Since marking 100 days in office last August, Minister Won has concentrated on addressing domestic real estate issues, including preparing policies to implement the new government’s national agenda such as the ‘2.5 million housing units + alpha’ supply plan and easing regulations related to housing policies.

ICAO was established in 1947 to systematically develop international aviation, leading the international standardization across all sectors of the aviation industry and deciding aviation-related standards and guidelines. The ICAO Council is composed of representatives from 36 member states elected at the triennial Assembly and serves as the decision-making body that enacts and revises standards related to air transport applied to international aviation.

Korea was first elected as a Council member state in 2001. In the 2019 election, Korea received a record-high 164 votes out of 177 countries. At that time, former Minister of Land, Infrastructure and Transport Kim Hyun-mi, along with officials from the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, actively participated in meetings and various receptions to garner support for the Council membership renewal. If Korea achieves an eighth consecutive term in this Council election, it is expected to positively influence the future elevation of its Council member status.

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