Diplomatic Lineup in Disarray Amid ROK-U.S. Friction, as Entire Team Is Replaced; Questions Raised Over Shake-Up at a Sensitive Time

[The Financial News] Amid prolonged signs of strain in ROK-U.S. security and economic ties, the senior diplomatic line handling relations with the United States at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Korea is being overhauled. With Ambassador of the Republic of Korea to the United States of America Kang Kyung-wha recently returning home temporarily, the simultaneous replacement of the U.S. diplomatic team has drawn attention.
According to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Korea on the 30th, new appointments have been made for the minister-counselor for economic affairs, the public diplomacy minister, and the minister for political affairs at the Embassy of the Republic of Korea in the USA. In addition, the director-general for North American affairs at the ministry headquarters, who oversees the United States, will also be replaced. In effect, four senior officials handling U.S. diplomacy in Seoul and Washington, D.C. are being appointed at once.
As all of the ministers below the ambassador — the embassy's 'No. 2 to No. 4' positions — are being replaced, changes are also expected at the front line of future contact with the United States. It has been rare for so many senior officials in the U.S. diplomatic line to be changed at once while the ROK-U.S. Alliance is under strain.
The ministry has downplayed the situation, saying that talks with the United States are proceeding smoothly despite the Coupang data breach and restrictions on sharing classified North Korea-related information between the two countries. Cho Hyun has also said that he was not informed by the United States about the matter in its early stages.
However, as subtle tensions have continued to grow not only in security but also in economic and cultural areas, there have been repeated criticisms that the diplomatic front line may have failed to grasp the situation properly. As concerns mounted over the Coupang data breach, security disruptions between the two countries, and even requests for cooperation over Bang Si-hyuk's visit to the United States, the sense of unease between U.S. political circles and the South Korean government has deepened.
Some observers say the government may have belatedly recognized the problems and moved to replace the U.S. diplomatic line.
The ministry, however, dismissed that view. It said the personnel changes were proceeding naturally in line with director-level appointments at the ministry headquarters. Among those being replaced, many are said to have been appointed during the Yoon Suk Yeol administration and later remained in office beyond their intended term because ministry personnel changes were delayed. Members of the People Power Party on the Foreign Affairs and Unification Committee of the National Assembly have repeatedly criticized Minister of Foreign Affairs Cho, saying that ambassadorial appointments abroad have been moving too slowly since the Lee Jae-myung administration took office.
rainman@fnnews.com Kim Kyung-soo Reporter