President Moon to Ukrainian Ambassador in Korea: "Wishing for Swift Peace"

14 Ambassadors to Korea Present Credentials
"Thank You for Supporting Peace on the Korean Peninsula"

British Ambassador to Korea with Experience in North Korea
"Efforts to Open British Embassy in Pyongyang"

President Moon Jae-in receives his credentials from Dmytro Ponomarenko, the newly appointed Ambassador of Ukraine to Korea, at the credential presentation ceremony held on the afternoon of the 26th in the Chungmugil Room of the Blue House. (Image source=Yonhap News)

[Asia Economy Reporter Moon Chaeseok] On the afternoon of the 26th, President Moon Jae-in received credentials from ambassadors to Korea from 14 countries including C?te d'Ivoire, Algeria, and Indonesia at the Blue House, welcoming their appointments.

During the reception following the credential presentation ceremony, President Moon expressed his expectation that the ambassadors would achieve meaningful results through solidarity and cooperation with the Republic of Korea during their tenure.

President Moon especially conveyed his condolences to Dmytro Ponomarenko, the Ambassador of Ukraine to Korea, for the hardships caused by Russia's invasion, stating, "I pray for a swift peace." In response, Ambassador Ponomarenko expressed gratitude to the Korean government for supporting Ukraine's sovereignty and territorial integrity. He also showed a badge attached to his jacket, given by Korean children as a symbol of support for Ukraine, and expressed hope that Korea's support would continue to expand.

President Moon remarked, "As this is the last day I receive credentials as president, I feel a special sentiment," adding, "Our government has focused on diplomacy more than any previous administration, as the scope of diplomacy has expanded to include the economy, supply chains, and quarantine, raising Korea's status." He also expressed gratitude to the countries that supported the government's efforts to establish peace on the Korean Peninsula during his tenure. President Moon emphasized, "Not only on the Korean Peninsula but also in various parts of the world, traditional security issues as well as non-traditional security issues such as infectious diseases and environmental problems must be resolved through solidarity and cooperation to achieve fundamental and sustainable peace and prosperity."

In response, Colin Crooks, the British Ambassador to Korea who has experience working at the embassy in North Korea, received applause by stating in Korean that he would strive to reopen the British Embassy in Pyongyang. Ambassador Crooks was stationed in Pyongyang for about a year and a half from late 2018 until May 2020, but temporarily closed and withdrew from the British Embassy in North Korea due to the COVID-19 situation and North Korea's border closure.