Foreign Minister Begins Tenure with Apology: "Lawsuit Against MBC Was Wrong, Will Reform Organizational Culture"

Minister of Foreign Affairs Cho Hyun (age 68, 13th Foreign Service Examination) stated on July 21, "Diplomatic issues have been exploited for domestic political purposes, and there have been many instances of dichotomous approaches in the diplomatic sphere, which should be led by pragmatism and national interest." Addressing MBC, the broadcaster that engaged in legal disputes with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs over the so-called 'Biden Nallimyeon' report, he said, "On behalf of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, I offer my apology."

Cho Hyun, Minister of Foreign Affairs, is taking the oath of office at the inauguration ceremony held at Seohui Hall, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Jongno-gu, Seoul on July 21, 2025. Photo by Yonhap News

At his inauguration ceremony held at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs building that morning, Minister Cho said, "It was clearly wrong for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to file a lawsuit against MBC," and made the above remarks. He also criticized the foreign policy of the previous Yoon Suk-yeol administration, stating, "There were inappropriate remarks made about foreign countries, and even when the chances of success in the Expo bid became slim, we persisted to the end." He added, "Ultimately, not long after hosting the Summit for Democracy, a former president even attempted to subvert democracy."

Minister Cho repeatedly bowed his head, saying, "On behalf of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, I sincerely apologize to the people for the ministry's failure to meet public expectations throughout all these processes." He continued, "I will ensure that such incidents are not repeated by fundamentally changing our organizational culture and work practices."

Minister Cho emphasized, "Now, we must not only return to normalcy but move forward as quickly as possible," and said, "We must turn this crisis of great transformation into an opportunity to maximize our national interest." As the top priority to achieve this, he cited the establishment of peace on the Korean Peninsula. He stated, "We must reduce tensions on the Korean Peninsula and create a path for dialogue with North Korea under close cooperation between South Korea and the United States," and added, "Through a phased and pragmatic approach, we must achieve tangible progress in peace on the Korean Peninsula and the resolution of the North Korean nuclear issue."

Minister Cho, who has experience in both bilateral and multilateral diplomacy, said, "While we must continue to develop our relationships with major neighboring countries, we must also never neglect diplomatic diversification." He emphasized, "In the context of intensifying strategic competition between the United States and China, expanding our strategic horizons for security, peace, and prosperity is no longer a choice but a necessity."

Minister Cho also stated, "In the new international political and economic order, where the three pillars of security, economy, and science and technology are interconnected, we must break down the barriers between political affairs and the economy that are deeply embedded in our work systems and mindsets." He added, "I will encourage an open and horizontal organizational culture where everyone can freely express their opinions, regardless of rank or position."