Lee Gi-cheol, First Head of Overseas Koreans Office, "Lowering the Threshold to Hear More Opinions"

Overseas Koreans Agency Chief: "Focus on Strengthening Next-Generation Koreans' National Identity"

Lee Ki-cheol, the inaugural Commissioner of the Ministry of Overseas Koreans, stated on the 5th, "We will become a Ministry of Overseas Koreans with a low threshold to listen to the opinions of many people."

Appointed on the 2nd, Commissioner Lee met with reporters at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs on the same day and said, "The Ministry of Overseas Koreans will focus a lot on helping the next-generation overseas Koreans strengthen their identity with the homeland." He added, "I have heard that many third- and fourth-generation overseas Koreans often do not think of themselves as Korean. If we can let them know how proud the homeland, Korea, is, we will achieve our goal."

The establishment of the Ministry of Overseas Koreans was a campaign promise of President Yoon Suk-yeol during his presidential candidacy. It was created through an amendment to the Government Organization Act in March to systematically and comprehensively implement policies for the 7.3 million overseas Koreans. The inauguration ceremony was held on this day. The ministry will be responsible for various exchanges with overseas Koreans and support for overseas Korean communities.

President Yoon Suk-yeol is presenting a certificate of appointment to Lee Ki-cheol, Commissioner of the Overseas Koreans Office, at the inauguration ceremony of the Overseas Koreans Office held at Booyoung Songdo Tower in Yeonsu-gu, Incheon on June 5, 2023. Photo by the Presidential Office Press Photographers Group

Commissioner Lee stated that the consulates general will provide practical assistance. He said, "I have advocated for consulates general that remove the thorn under the fingernail, and I believe the Ministry of Overseas Koreans should also play a concrete and practical role for the Korean diaspora," adding, "We will not hesitate to undertake new tasks that were not done in the past."

Commissioner Lee added, "If we communicate well, listen carefully to what overseas Koreans say, and also heed the opinions of domestic experts and media organizations, we can resolve difficult and misunderstood issues through communication and achieve the founding purpose of the Ministry of Overseas Koreans."

Commissioner Lee graduated from Seoul National University’s Department of Law and the University of Wisconsin’s Graduate School of Public Administration. He passed the 19th Foreign Service Examination in 1985 and began his diplomatic career. He has served as Director-General of the Treaty Bureau, Director-General of the International Legal Affairs Bureau, Ambassador for Overseas Koreans and Consular Affairs, Ambassador to the Netherlands, and Consul General in Los Angeles. After retirement, he has been serving as Secretary General of the UNICEF Korea Committee since May 2018. His experience as Ambassador for Overseas Koreans and Consul General in Los Angeles, which oversees the largest Korean community, appears to have been a factor in his appointment as Commissioner of the Ministry of Overseas Koreans, responsible for policies and projects related to 7.5 million overseas Koreans.