[22nd Rising Star]⑬ 'Diplomacy Expert' Kim Junhyung "Broken Diplomacy... I Will Protect It in the Legislature"

"Push for a National Audit on Busan Expo"
"Building a Progressive Diplomatic Network Since Taking Office"

Editor's NoteThere are 131 first-term lawmakers entering the 22nd National Assembly. This is the lowest number since the 16th National Assembly in 2000, which had 112. Amid a political landscape where the ruling party holds fewer seats than the opposition, the public hopes these lawmakers will lead politics of dialogue and compromise to achieve tangible results. We introduce the elected officials expected to bring a fresh breeze to the 22nd National Assembly. ①Park Ji-hye ②Go Dong-jin ③Gwak Sang-eon ④Park Soo-min ⑤Park Chung-kwon ⑥Seo Myung-ok ⑦Lim Mi-ae ⑧Choi Eun-seok ⑨Boo Seung-chan ⑩Wi Seong-rak ⑪Jo Seung-hwan ⑫Kim Nam-hee ⑬Kim Jun-hyung

Kim Jun-hyung, a progressive camp's diplomatic expert who lectured on international diplomatic relations from the podium and appeared on TV to explain complex international relations in an easy-to-understand manner, has entered the 22nd National Assembly as an elected member of the Joguk Innovation Party. On the 20th, we met him at the Diplomatic Plaza office located in Hapjeong-dong, Mapo-gu, Seoul.

Kim was previously an advisor to former President Moon Jae-in and Lee Jae-myung, leader of the Democratic Party of Korea's presidential campaigns, and served as chairman of the Democratic Party's Northeast Asia Peace Special Committee, showing close ties with the Democratic Party. However, in this general election, he ran as a member of the Joguk Innovation Party. He said, "Joguk Innovation Party leader Joguk offered me a recruitment proposal," adding, "I initially declined repeatedly but eventually joined after hearing that they were gathering more progressive people."

Kim Jun-hyung, the elected member of the Joguk Innovation Party, is being interviewed by Asia Economy on the 20th. Photo by Kim Hyun-min kimhyun81@

He entered politics despite the risk of being labeled a 'polyprofessor' because of a sense of mission that "I have no choice but to participate. I must do it." Kim said, "Since the Yoon Seok-youl government took office, diplomacy has been deteriorating, and it is my historical mission to stop it by any means necessary," adding, "I am not concerned about what comes after." He is only considering the National Assembly's Foreign Affairs and Unification Committee as his standing committee. However, since the Joguk Innovation Party is a non-negotiating group, he must wait for the Speaker of the National Assembly's allocation results.

He cited the national investigation into the 2030 World Expo as the first task once his legislative activities begin. Kim said, "There are many hidden issues related to the Expo, such as the promise to establish 12 new diplomatic missions ahead of the host country announcement, and I intend to push for a national investigation on this," adding, "The party has also agreed on this matter."

He also believes that the current government should be more thoroughly monitored in the diplomatic arena. He warned that the Yoon Seok-youl government, judged by the general election, might view diplomacy as a kind of breakthrough and take reckless actions. He said, "Diplomacy is concentrated in the executive branch, especially the president, so the legislature has little leverage or authority," adding, "We need to impose restrictions through national investigations or resolutions."

Several resolutions at the National Assembly level are also being prepared. The top priority is a resolution stating that South Korea will not intervene in Taiwan or Ukraine. Such parliamentary resolutions alone could significantly improve relations with China.

What is the biggest problem with the current government's diplomacy? He pointed out, "Since this government came into power, Korea-led agendas have disappeared," adding, "Under the Moon Jae-in administration, we took the lead on issues such as becoming a climate advanced country, Northeast Asian peace on the Korean Peninsula, and inter-Korean relations, but these aspects have vanished."

Kim Jun-hyung, the elected member of the Joguk Innovation Party, is being interviewed by Asia Economy on the 20th. Photo by Kim Hyun-min kimhyun81@

Through four years of legislative activity, he also presented a plan to prepare for the period after a progressive government takes power. Kim said, "Even if a progressive government comes to power, the existing Ministry of Foreign Affairs' network will operate," adding, "Former Presidents Roh Moo-hyun and Moon Jae-in seemed to be captured by existing diplomatic networks and conservative media and research institutes in the U.S. and Japan," and "For the next administration, a progressive network is necessary. I will develop this talent pool and related resources."

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