Moon Seong-hwan Appointed as Afghan Deputy Ambassador Amid 'Taliban Reoccupation'

Ministry of Foreign Affairs: "Will Not Apply for Agr?ment to Afghan Government for the Time Being"

[Asia Economy Reporter Koo Chae-eun] The Taliban-appointed former Ministry of Foreign Affairs Policy Planning Officer Moon Seong-hwan as charg? d'affaires, not as a formal ambassador, to Afghanistan, which they have reoccupied.

On the 21st, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs stated, "Considering the situation in Afghanistan, we will dispatch a charg? d'affaires instead of an ambassador," adding, "He will be granted the same treatment and authority as an ambassador, but we will not apply for agrement (prior consent for diplomatic envoys) from the Afghan government, nor will we issue letters of credence."

Charg? d'affaires Moon has experience working at Middle Eastern and European missions, including the United Arab Emirates (UAE), Qatar, and Belgium, countries considered important actors in Afghan issues. At the Ministry headquarters, he served as head of the Africa Division and as Policy and Public Relations Officer. It is expected that the issuance of letters of credence will be decided later based on developments in Afghanistan’s situation and political progress.

The Ministry explained that countries such as the United States, Australia, Norway, and the Netherlands also dispatch charg?s d'affaires instead of ambassadors to Afghanistan. The Korean Embassy in Afghanistan evacuated to Qatar last August when the Taliban reoccupied Afghanistan and is currently operating there.

Former World Bank Deputy Director Kang Bu-seong was appointed as Consul General in Da Nang. He previously served as International Finance Counselor and Director General of External Economic Affairs at the Ministry of Strategy and Finance. Da Nang is a major industrial hub in central Vietnam, where international construction projects are actively underway, especially in manufacturing and tourism sectors. Therefore, it is expected that Consul General Kang will demonstrate expertise in economic and financial fields. Former Ministry of Foreign Affairs Overseas Safety Management Planning Officer Lee Woo-sung was appointed as Consul General in Istanbul.

Consul General Lee has accumulated expertise in consular operations management, having served as Director of Overseas Missions and Head of Research Administration.

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