PM Moon names new envoys to China, Russia, Japan

SEOUL, Mar 4, 2019, The Korea Times. President Moon Jae-in plans to appoint former second deputy director for National Security Nam Gwan-pyo as ambassador to Japan, and former presidential policy chief Jang Ha-sung as ambassador to China, according to diplomatic sources, Monday, reported The Korea Times.

Consul General of South Korea in Vladivostok Lee Sok-bae will also be promoted to ambassador to Russia, replacing Woo Yoon-keun who is under investigation over allegations he received kickbacks from a real estate developer in return for job favors while he was a lawmaker of the then-Democratic Party in 2009.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs is getting consent for the appointment of the new envoys from respective countries, the sources said.

The reshuffle is to strengthen diplomatic relations with countries surrounding the Korean Peninsula as the denuclearization talks between the U.S. and North Korea hit a deadlock.

Nam served as first secretary at the Korean Embassy in Japan in 1992, and had been the second deputy director for national security since the beginning of the Moon administration, when he was replaced by former Trade Minister Kim Hyun-chong.

Jang joined Cheong Wa Dae as presidential policy chief at the launch of Moon’s nomination, and led the economic policy of income-led growth. He stepped down from his position last November due to a possible conflict with Kim Dong-yeon, the then-finance and deputy prime minister, over economic policies.

The post in China has been vacant since former Ambassador Noh Young-min was named presidential chief of staff in January.

Critics say the reshuffle was made largely to overcome diplomatic difficulties such as the failure of the summit between North Korean leader Kim Jong-un and U.S. President Donald Trump in Hanoi at the end of February and the conflicts with Japan over Korean sex slaves and rulings on forced labor victims.

First Deputy Director for National Security Lee Sang-chul will be appointed as ambassador to Austria. He was replaced by retired Army Lt. Gen. Kim You-geun. Kim was in charge at the defense ministry of overseeing the relocation of the U.S. Forces Korea, before he was tapped for the position.

“Both Lee and Nam have devoted themselves to the Moon administration since it was launched, and have seen palpable outcomes,” Cheong Wa Dae Spokesman Kim Eui-kyeom said on Friday. He implied they would continue to serve weighty roles in the Moon administration.