President Moon: "Please Fully Utilize Korea's Soft Power in Diplomatic Affairs"

New Ambassador Credential Presentation Ceremony, "Korea is recognized not only for tall stature but also for physical strength"

[Asia Economy Reporter Ryu Jeong-min] On the 2nd, President Moon Jae-in, at the 'New Ambassador Credential Presentation Ceremony,' stated, "Recently, our standing has greatly increased not only in economic power but also in soft aspects such as quarantine, health and medical care, democracy, public awareness, and cultural consciousness," and urged, "While conducting diplomatic work, please fully utilize Korea's soft power."

In particular, President Moon emphasized, "There was a perception that Korea was 'tall but lacked substance.' However, now I feel that the evaluation is that Korea is 'not only tall but also physically strong.' Especially, by leveraging the soft power in the cultural field represented by Hallyu, cooperation with various countries will greatly benefit both our country and the international community."

Regarding this, Kang Min-seok, the Blue House spokesperson, explained, "The British monthly magazine Monocle, in its latest issue (December 2020/January 2021), stated, 'Korea's strong soft power elements, centered on movies, TV, and music that have recently been attracting global attention, remain strong. Korea's music and films are genuine cultural exports,' and ranked Korea's soft power as the world's second strongest after Germany."

[Image source=Yonhap News]

President Moon congratulated the new ambassadors and also expressed gratitude to overseas diplomatic staff.

President Moon said, "As Korea's international standing has risen recently, the importance of diplomacy in state affairs has increased. In particular, summit diplomacy has increased and become more significant. New ambassadors Park Sang-hoon (to Spain) and Park Cheol-min (to Hungary) worked hard preparing for summit diplomacy as the Blue House Protocol Secretary and Foreign Policy Secretary, respectively."

President Moon added, "New ambassadors Lim Mu-hong (to Laos), Go Bong-woo (to Ecuador), Lim Jeong-taek (to Ghana), and Choi Tae-ho (to Afghanistan) have long experience as diplomats or have extensive overseas experience, but this is their first time as heads of overseas missions. I hope today's credential presentation ceremony will be a special and meaningful moment in their careers."

President Moon expressed gratitude, saying, "Thanks to the efforts at overseas missions, 50,000 overseas Koreans from 120 countries have been able to return. Many expressed their gratitude and pride, saying that seeing the Korean government help with return flights when it was difficult to secure them made them realize why the country exists."

Ambassador Park Sang-hoon said, "At the Overseas Mission Chiefs Meeting (November 30), the President said in a video message that each mission chief is the face of the Republic of Korea. Having served closely as Protocol Secretary, I am now going abroad as an ambassador to represent the country," and pledged, "I will do my best to enhance the national status commensurate with our national power and to implement the President's diplomatic policy vision on the front lines."

Ambassador Lim Mu-hong stated, "I will engrave the national mission entrusted by the appointing authority, handle tasks strictly, and exercise restraint in words and actions," and added, "Through self-management, I will maintain high morality and integrity and do my best to blossom the President's state philosophy within the Korean community and the host country."

Ambassador Lim Jeong-taek said, "I was worried I might be appointed without meeting the President, so I am grateful that the ceremony was held despite the busy schedule," and added, "Since Ghana has been a model country holding democratic elections since 1992, I will do my best to improve relations in every aspect."

Meanwhile, in his closing remarks, President Moon emphasized, "Please take great interest so that Korea, as a middle power, can act as a bridge between developed and developing countries and lead international cooperation," and stated, "Through the process of expanding international cooperation, the people will rediscover the Republic of Korea, and overseas Koreans will take pride and have confidence in their homeland."