Minju: "We Must Shift to Practical Diplomacy Centered on National Interest"
Amid reports that South Korea was not included in the list of invited countries for this year's G7 summit, opposition parties including the Democratic Party criticized the government's foreign policy.
Kang Sun-woo, spokesperson for the Democratic Party, said in a written briefing on the 20th, "It has been reported that our country is not included in the list of invited countries for the Group of Seven (G7) summit to be held in Italy this June," and criticized, "The Yoon Seok-yeol administration's 'G7 Plus diplomacy,' which aimed to strengthen international status under the banner of a 'global pivotal state,' has become meaningless."
Spokesperson Kang emphasized, "Despite strengthening solidarity with Western countries including the U.S. and Japan even at the cost of sacrificing relations with China, the result is so dismal."
He continued, "The remarks from a presidential office official that 'there has been no official announcement yet from Italy, the chair country,' and 'this year Italy is selecting invitees in connection with domestic politics, so this should not be seen as a variable indicating whether cooperation among the seven countries will be strengthened' are even more problematic," adding, "It is outrageous to try to cover up diplomatic failure with lame excuses and clumsy justifications."
Spokesperson Kang further stated, "The Yoon Seok-yeol administration is virtually excluded from an important forum to discuss rapidly evolving international situations such as the Ukraine war, Middle East crises, and the new Cold War on the Korean Peninsula," and demanded, "Reflect on the failed diplomacy and security policies so far and shift the policy direction to pragmatic diplomacy centered on national interests."
Kim Jun-hyung, a member-elect of the Innovation Party for the Nation, also commented, "South Korea was not invited to the G7 summit, also known as the 'club of advanced countries,'" pointing out, "The reality of 'waking up to find ourselves a developing country' is becoming apparent."
Kim, who served as president of the Korea National Diplomatic Academy during the Moon Jae-in administration, said, "It was expected that South Korea would naturally become a member if the G7 expanded to G8 or G10," and criticized, "However, due to the Yoon Seok-yeol administration's consistent ideological and value-based diplomacy, it seems difficult not only to become a formal member but even to be invited."
Kim added, "This is because South Korea's diplomatic playing field has significantly shrunk due to the unilateral diplomatic line centered on the U.S. and Japan," and urged, "I hope the Yoon Seok-yeol administration changes to diplomacy for the people and pragmatic diplomacy centered on national interests even now."
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