Government Appoints Seoul National University Professor Cho Hong-sik as Climate and Environment Ambassador, Successor to Na Kyung-won

Ministry of Foreign Affairs Announces Appointment of Professor Cho Hong-sik as New Climate and Environment Ambassador on the 8th

[Asia Economy Reporter Koo Chae-eun] On the 18th, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs appointed Professor Cho Hong-sik of Seoul National University Law School as the new Climate and Environment Ambassador.

Earlier, President Yoon Suk-yeol dismissed former lawmaker Na Kyung-won, who concurrently served as Vice Chairperson of the Low Birthrate and Aging Society Committee and Climate and Environment Ambassador, on the 13th. Professor Cho's appointment is a follow-up personnel move. After President Yoon's nomination on the 13th and the Cabinet meeting's approval on the 17th, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the relevant department, officially proceeded with the appointment on this day.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs stated, "The government, after deliberation at the Cabinet meeting on the 17th, appointed Professor Cho as a special envoy to support our government's diplomatic activities in the fields of climate change and environment, and designated his external title as 'Climate and Environment Ambassador.'"

The external title ambassador system grants ambassadorial external titles to individuals who possess expertise and recognition in various fields. The purpose is to support the government's diplomatic activities. The term of office is one year. According to the 'Act on the Appointment and Authority of Government Representatives and Special Envoys,' to confer an external title, one must be appointed as a government representative or special envoy.

The newly appointed Ambassador Cho is a professor at Seoul National University Law School and has served as president of the Environmental Law Association, a regulatory review committee member at the Ministry of Environment, a public law officer in the environmental field at the Ministry of Government Legislation, and a member of the Green Growth Committee. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs explained that from 2020 to 2021, he successfully fulfilled the role of Environmental Cooperation Ambassador and is recognized for combining theory and practice in the climate and environment fields.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs said, "Ambassador Cho will greatly contribute to strengthening the government's climate and environmental diplomatic activities through enhancing domestic and international understanding and creating favorable conditions for our policies, such as achieving the national 2050 carbon neutrality goal, transitioning to a low-carbon green economy, and supporting the achievement of the 2030 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), as well as outreach and promotional activities targeting domestic and international private sector stakeholders."