【By Observer Net, Chen Sijia】According to the Yonhap News Agency on October 14, Lee Jae-hyun, son of former South Korean President Roh Tae-woo and chairman of the East Asia Cultural Center, has been basically confirmed as the new South Korean ambassador to China. Lee said he feels a great sense of responsibility and will do his best to develop relations between South Korea and China, promoting friendly neighborliness between the two countries.

A South Korean government spokesperson said that at the 45th State Council meeting chaired by President Yoon Suk-yeol on October 14, the South Korean government approved the "government personnel appointment bill" appointing Lee Jae-hyun as the ambassador to China. According to reports, once approved by Yoon Suk-yeol, Lee will officially take up the post of South Korean ambassador to China, and it is expected that he will assume his duties shortly.

Regarding this, Lee told Yonhap News Agency: "At the time of the 33rd anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between South Korea and China, I will do my utmost to further develop the relationship between the two countries, promote friendly neighborliness, and fully enhance South Korea's international status. Taking on such an important responsibility during a period when the international order is undergoing major changes, I deeply feel the weight of responsibility and the profound sense of historical mission."

Lee said he thanked Yoon Suk-yeol for giving him the opportunity to serve the country.

Lee Jae-hyun IC photo

According to South Korean media, Lee Jae-hyun was born on November 3, 1965, in Daegu, South Korea. He graduated from the Department of Business Administration at Seoul National University, and then went to the United States for further studies, obtaining a Master's degree in Political Science from Stanford University and a Doctorate in Law from Georgetown University.

In 2012, Lee founded the East Asia Cultural Foundation, dedicated to promoting cultural exchange projects between China and South Korea. In 2016, he served as a member of the International Advisory Group of Chengdu City, China, actively conducting various activities to promote exchanges between South Korea and China. During the Moon Jae-in administration, he served in the "Committee for the Future Development of South Korea-China Relations" at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs from 2021 to 2022.

In August this year, Lee served as a member of the South Korean presidential envoy delegation visiting China.

Since the previous South Korean ambassador, Jeong Jae-ho, left office in January, the position of South Korean ambassador to China has been vacant for about nine months. South Korean media such as Joongang Daily analyzed that Roh Tae-woo had promoted the establishment of diplomatic relations between South Korea and China in 1992, and now the Yoon Suk-yeol government plans to appoint the son of Roh Tae-woo as the ambassador to China, which aims to send a signal to improve relations with China.

At the regular press conference of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs on September 11, a South Korean journalist asked, "South Korea has nominated Lee Jae-hyun as the first ambassador to China under the Yoon Suk-yeol government. How does China evaluate this nomination?" In response, Lin Jian, spokesperson for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, said, "We have noted the relevant report. Ambassadors are important bridges for developing friendly cooperative relations between countries. China is waiting for the official nomination from South Korea."

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Original: https://www.toutiao.com/article/7561090218363847220/

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