PM Moon expects Seoul’s diplomacy to capitalize on its soft power

SEOUL, Dec 2, 2020, Yonhap. President Moon Jae-in said Wednesday that South Korea’s soft power, especially in the cultural sector, is a diplomatic asset for its international cooperation, Yonhap News Agency reported.

He made the remarks during a conversation with newly appointed ambassadors to Spain, Hungary, Laos, Ecuador, Ghana and Afghanistan, according to presidential spokesman Kang Min-seok. They received letters of appointment from the South Korean president at a Cheong Wa Dae ceremony.

“Recently, our (country’s) status has been greatly enhanced not just economically but also in terms of soft power including virus control, health and medical care, democracy, public perception and culture awareness,” Moon was quoted as saying.

President Moon Jae-in (C) walks toward a meeting room at Cheong Wa Dae in Seoul along with newly named ambassadors after giving them letters of appointment on Dec. 2, 2020. (Yonhap)

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Especially, he added, “It will be of great help to both South Korea and the international community if (we) cooperate with other nations by utilizing soft power in the cultural field that’s represented by the Korean Wave.”

He asked the envoys to seek ways to use Seoul’s soft power enough in diplomacy.

Moon also called on them to make efforts for South Korea’s “bridge role” between advanced countries and developing ones in dealing with such global issues as the fair distribution of COVID-19 vaccines and climate change, the spokesman said.