Embassy Using 'Diplomatic Network Construction Fees' as Membership Dues for Spouse Gatherings

Rep. Iyongseon Analyzes Ministry of Foreign Affairs Internal System
Funds Spent Like Pocket Money Instead of Enhancing Diplomatic Capabilities
1 in 3 Major Personnel Contacts Missing Details

It has been revealed that the 'Diplomatic Network Building Expenses' allocated to overseas diplomatic missions to enhance diplomatic capabilities, such as contacting key foreign figures, have been poorly managed, with some funds used as membership fees for spouses' gatherings. There are concerns that the management and supervision issues, which have been pointed out in the past, are recurring.

According to data submitted by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to Lee Yong-seon, a member of the National Assembly's Foreign Affairs and Unification Committee from the Democratic Party of Korea, multiple cases were found where some overseas missions spent diplomatic network building expenses on purposes different from their intended use, such as membership fees or luncheon costs for ambassadors' spouses' meetings.

For example, the Embassy of Guatemala spent its diplomatic network building budget in June 2022 on the annual membership fee for the diplomatic corps spouses' gathering. The Consulate General in New York used business funds in February this year for luncheons over two consecutive days with real estate agents. Although it was said to be a meeting to discuss the relocation of the consulate, this use was inconsistent with the intended purpose.

The diplomatic network building expenses should be used for projects requiring security, collecting confidential information, or fostering goodwill with key figures. Additionally, the Embassy of the Dominican Republic used the funds to pay for the consulate card annual fee, and the Embassy of France spent money on meals while meeting with a remodeling architect for the consular building.

The reason why diplomatic network building expenses have been used like petty cash at each mission seems to be partly due to poor management of contacts with key figures in each country. According to an investigation by Lee Yong-seon's office through the Ministry of Foreign Affairs' internal system on 10 embassies, out of 5,135 contacts with key figures over the past three years, 1,393 cases (27.1%) had no recorded details of the meetings. Each staff member at the missions is required, according to Ministry of Foreign Affairs training, to collect information on key figures related to their work and enter it into the 'Key Figure Contact Management System.'

However, the Embassy of the United Kingdom did not record any meeting details for 366 contacts over the past three years. Similarly, the Embassy of Japan failed to record details for 946 out of 972 contacts (97.3%) in the system. The Embassy of the Dominican Republic, where misuse of diplomatic network building expenses was detected, also did not enter the details of 80 out of 113 contacts (70.8%).

Ministry of Foreign Affairs Building, Jongno-gu, Seoul

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs was previously warned in a 2019 Board of Audit and Inspection audit regarding diplomatic network building expenses to "thoroughly supervise and guide the execution of diplomatic network building expenses to ensure that records related to contacted key figures are not omitted from the Key Figure Contact Management System."

Democratic Party lawmaker Lee Yong-seon stated, "Diplomatic network building expenses, which should be used to enhance diplomatic capabilities, are still being poorly managed and have been used like petty cash in some missions," and emphasized, "A full-scale investigation of overseas missions is necessary to establish measures to prevent recurrence."

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