President Lee Jae-myung is considering sending special envoys to major countries including the United States, Japan, and China.
According to the presidential office on the 4th, the government is pushing to send special envoys to major countries within this month. It is reported that coordination of the list of special envoys and consultations with counterpart countries are also ongoing.
It is reported that the countries being considered for sending special envoys include not only the United States, Japan, and China, but also around 10 other countries, including the European Union (EU), France, Australia, India, and Canada. The scope of special envoy dispatch, which has previously centered on neighboring countries, is expected to expand to Europe and the Indo-Pacific.
The presidential office is said to be considering sending special envoys to Russia, which is closely associated with North Korea.
Previous administrations have traditionally sent special envoys before and after taking office. Former President Yoon Suk-yeol sent a 'policy consultation delegation' of special envoy nature to the United States and Japan during his time as president-elect, while former President Moon Jae-in sent special envoys to the United States, China, Japan, Russia, and the EU in the early part of his term. Former Presidents Park Geun-hye and Lee Myung-bak sent special envoys to the United States and China, and to the four neighboring powers (the United States, China, Japan, and Russia) during their respective time as president-elect.