Kim Min-seok's pragmatic diplomacy boosts China, then Russia... Is Song Young-gil, the 'bad cop,' making a comeback?

[Financial News] Kim Min-seok, leader of the Democratic Party of Korea, has begun pushing party-to-party diplomacy with the U.S., China and Japan, stepping up support for the Lee Jae-myung administration's pragmatic diplomacy. After putting Park Jeong, known as a China expert, at the forefront, the party is also considering expanding its diplomatic outreach to Russia. That has drawn attention to the possible role of Song Young-gil, a Russia expert within the party. Observers say Song, who faced Kim in the party convention and took a relatively hard line, could serve as a so-called "bad cop" in relations with Russia as well.
On the 31st, Kim launched the first meeting of the U.S.-China-Japan party diplomacy task force, part of the Mega Ten special body centered on the 10 key national policy tasks. The plan is to visit the United States in mid-October ahead of the Nov. 3 U.S. midterm elections and engage in party diplomacy with the Trump administration and Congress, while also pursuing exchanges with China and Japan.
Kim said at the meeting, "Given the changing domestic and international situation, party diplomacy has become important." He added, "A visit to the United States for party diplomacy before the Nov. 3 U.S. midterm elections would be a very meaningful moment for engaging both the Trump administration and Congress." He continued, "We will make the U.S. visit the basis of our party diplomacy in mid-October, and also carry out party diplomacy with China and Japan."
Park Jeong, widely regarded inside the party as a China expert, was appointed as the task force's standing chief. Park said, "We must continue to maintain friendly ties with the United States, stay connected with China, and bring Japan into the picture." He added, "By the end of this year, I will visit the U.S., China and Japan and do my part as a messenger for peace on the Korean Peninsula." He explained that if President Lee Jae Myung serves as a "pacemaker" for peace on the Korean Peninsula, the task force will act as a "pace messenger" to support that effort.
There are also plans to expand party diplomacy to Russia. Park said, "We will also consider including Russia in the U.S.-China-Japan party diplomacy." He noted, "The four countries surrounding the Korean Peninsula are the U.S., China, Japan and Russia. Russia's importance to peace on the peninsula is growing."
The idea is to resume contact at the party level before restoring government-to-government ties with Russia. The Democratic Party of Korea believes it can use its existing exchange channel with United Russia to discuss bilateral issues such as the Northern Sea Route (NSR) and energy. Park stressed, "Government-level exchanges and cooperation are still difficult, but party-level exchanges and cooperation are fully possible." He said party diplomacy should broaden diplomatic space through "exploratory dialogue," or "Track 1.5 diplomacy."
Kim immediately voiced support. He said, "The inclusion of the Russia component is very meaningful." He added, "As we move forward, we can add it at the right time if needed, and it seems to be connected to the Northern Sea Route as well."
Attention is also turning to the role of Song Young-gil, another prominent Russia expert in the party. At a Democratic Party workshop in July, Song said he planned to attend the Eastern Economic Forum in Vladivostok, Russia, from Sept. 1 to 3, showing his willingness to engage with Russia early on. However, Song's office told Financial News on the 31st that attendance would be difficult because of preparations for the regular National Assembly session and the state audit. Although the trip has fallen through, the party's consideration of Russia as a new pillar of party diplomacy leaves open the possibility of using Song's Russia network. In particular, the task force envisions the party and political circles taking the lead in widening contact with Russia, where the government may find it difficult to step forward directly.
Hwang Hee, the task force chief, explained, "There are many situations that are too burdensome for the government when it has to handle official duties." He added, "If the party takes on that burden as a 'second official' team, broadens diversity and scope, and tries different approaches, it could raise the success rate of government diplomacy."
There is also speculation that Song could once again play Kim's "bad cop," as he did during the party convention. During the leadership race, Kim emphasized expanding the party's reach and a pragmatic line, while Song appealed to supporters with a comparatively stronger message. In relations with Russia as well, Song could raise issues that the government and party leadership would find difficult to bring up directly, while Kim broadens diplomatic options based on those moves.
Kim also said the U.S.-China-Japan party diplomacy initiative is "not about something general and abstract, but about building concrete diplomatic substance and personal networks." He said the party plans to turn the diplomatic connections of its lawmakers into a public asset through a database. The idea is to combine the government's official diplomacy with the party's human network to provide side support for the Lee Jae-myung administration's pragmatic diplomacy.

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