Foreign Minister Nominee Cho Tae-yeol... Trade Expert and Ideal Candidate for Economic Security

1979 Foreign Service Exam 13th Class
Held Key Positions in 'Economics and Trade'
Served as WTO Dispute Panel Chair
UN Ambassador Until 2019
Oversaw Multilateral Diplomacy and Development Cooperation

Cho Tae-yeol, nominee for Minister of Foreign Affairs

Cho Tae-yeol, the new nominee for Minister of Foreign Affairs, is a seasoned diplomat well-versed in economic and trade diplomacy. Amid the intensifying strategic competition between the U.S. and China and the ensuing global supply chain crisis, Cho's appointment, with his deep expertise in the economic 'trade' sector, is seen as a move to strengthen economic security.

Born in 1955 in Gyeongbuk, Cho graduated from Seoul National University’s College of Law and entered the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in 1979 after passing the 13th Foreign Service Examination. He held key positions in the 'trade' sector, including Director of Trade Division 2, Director of Regional Trade Bureau, and Trade Negotiation Coordinator. He also served as Counselor and Deputy Chief of Mission at the Korean Mission in Geneva. Notably, from 2005 to 2007, he worked as Chair of the World Trade Organization (WTO) dispute panel and Chair of the Government Procurement Committee.

From 2008 to 2011, he served as Ambassador to Spain. During the Park Geun-hye administration, from 2013 to 2016, he was the Second Vice Minister of Foreign Affairs, overseeing multilateral diplomacy and development cooperation, and subsequently served as Ambassador to the United Nations until 2019. Cho’s father was Cho Ji-hoon (real name Cho Dong-tak, 1920?1968), a poet of the Cheongnokpa literary movement.

Upon his appointment announcement by the Presidential Office, Cho said, “I feel the weight of responsibility being appointed at a time when the strategic competition between the U.S. and China and the war in Ukraine are shaking the rules-based international order and blurring the lines between security and economy.” He added, “Although I lack some ability and experience, if formally appointed after the confirmation hearing, I will wisely navigate the severe external environment and expand the scope of our diplomatic activities.”

▲1955 Gyeongbuk Yeongyang ▲Joongang High School ▲Seoul National University, College of Law ▲University of Oxford Graduate School ▲Counselor, Korean Embassy in Saudi Arabia ▲Director, International Trade Bureau, Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade ▲Counselor, Korean Mission to the UN in Geneva ▲Counselor, Korean Embassy in the U.S. ▲Director, Regional Trade Bureau, Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade ▲Deputy Chief of Mission, Korean Mission to the UN in Geneva ▲Trade Negotiation Coordinator, Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade ▲Ambassador to Spain ▲Development Cooperation Ambassador, Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade ▲Second Vice Minister of Foreign Affairs ▲Ambassador to the United Nations