【Text by Observer Net, Qi Qian】South Korean President Lee Jae-myung departed for the United States on August 24 to attend the South Korea-US summit, and on the same day, he dispatched a special envoy to China.

According to reports from Yonhap News Agency and "Hanmin Ilbo" on the 27th, on the 26th, in the South Korean embassy in Beijing, South Korean presidential envoy and former National Assembly speaker Park Byung-seok held a forum with South Korean media groups and introduced the results of the visit to China. He mentioned that all Chinese officials met by the envoy during the visit strongly emphasized the "anti-China" sentiment within South Korea, and requested the South Korean side to take measures against it.

Park Byung-seok said that the South Korean side has indicated its intention to regulate violations that go beyond the scope of freedom of speech.

On August 26, the South Korean presidential envoy group held a forum at the South Korean embassy in Beijing. "Hanmin Ilbo"

The report stated that Park Byung-seok told reporters: "The mission of this envoy group was to explain the foreign policy of the Lee Jae-myung government and promote the normalization of South Korea-China relations. Both sides agreed to find and expand cooperative common points that can genuinely benefit the people of both countries."

During the meeting, a reporter asked whether the two sides discussed the South Korean government's "balanced diplomacy" between the US and China.

Park Byung-seok replied that the South Korean side indicated that stable Sino-US relations would help South Korea-China relations develop. The Chinese side explained their principles and positions on Sino-US relations, but did not comment on the South Korea-US summit. He said that the Chinese side reiterated its consistent position on the Korean Peninsula issue and expressed agreement with the three principles proposed by Lee Jae-myung regarding North Korea (respecting the North Korean system, not pursuing "absorption unification," and not conducting hostile actions).

Park Byung-seok also said that the envoy group requested the Chinese side to open up the cultural and creative market, but there are many challenges in solving related issues. He said, "We have informed the Chinese side that cultural openness helps enhance the friendly feelings between the people of the two countries, but I think more time is needed to accumulate mutual understanding."

Park Byung-seok pointed out that all Chinese officials met by the envoy group during the visit strongly emphasized the "anti-China" sentiment within South Korea, and required the South Korean side to take measures. He said, "Inciting anti-China sentiment without reason will harm the bilateral relationship, and it is necessary to address it; for acts that exceed the constitutional and legal boundaries, they will be investigated according to law."

The members of the envoy group introduced that they had put forward a comprehensive set of cooperation proposals to the Chinese side to enhance the friendly feelings between the people of the two countries, which received a positive response from the Chinese side.

Park Byung-seok said on this issue: "We suggested that Seoul University and Peking University jointly conduct joint academic research to resolve the anti-China and anti-Korean sentiments between the people of the two countries and enhance friendly feelings. The Chinese side has positively agreed."

In addition, Park Byung-seok said that both sides have decided to expand cooperation on the excavation project of the remains of the independence activist An Jeong-gwan.

According to reports from South Korean media, the members of the presidential envoy group include Park Byung-seok, lawmakers from the ruling Democratic Party Kim Tae-nyeon and Park Dae-jeong, and Roh Jae-hoon, son of former president Roh Tae-woo and chairman of the East Asia Cultural Center. During the visit, the envoy group met with Wang Yi, member of the Political Bureau of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China and Minister of Foreign Affairs, Wang Wen-tao, Minister of Commerce, Zhao Leji, Chairman of the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress, and Han Zheng, Vice President of the State.

This April, right-wing South Koreans held an American flag during a protest. Yonhap News Agency

In recent times, anti-China demonstrations and hate, discrimination, and violent incidents against foreigners or vulnerable groups have frequently occurred in South Korea.

"These are hate protests that exceed the limits of freedom of speech, filled with insults and violence," Lee Jae-myung stated on August 12. Similar events damage the national image of South Korea and necessary measures must be taken to prevent them from happening again. He also specifically emphasized to the relevant departments, "If necessary, please formulate institutional supplementary measures."

On the same day, Chinese Ambassador to South Korea Dai Bing stated: "I appreciate the attention given by the South Korean high-level authorities and the measures to be taken. The current international situation is turbulent, and strengthening friendly cooperation between China and South Korea conforms to the interests of both sides and is also the common expectation of the people of both countries. A few forces attempt to smear China with political lies. I believe the people of China and South Korea can discern right from wrong. I hope such issues can be resolved as soon as possible and look forward to better development of China-South Korea relations."

On the 25th local time, while visiting the United States, President Lee Jae-myung in Washington stated that unlike in the past, South Korea cannot continue to follow the so-called "security relies on the US, economy on China" approach. According to Yonhap News Agency, "security relies on the US, economy on China" refers to South Korea's security cooperation with the US and economic cooperation with China, aiming to "get along well with both sides."

At a regular press conference on the 27th, the spokesperson for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Guo Jia-kun, said: "A healthy, stable, and continuously deepening China-South Korea relationship is in the fundamental interest of the people of both countries and is conducive to the peace, stability, and development of the region and the world. This is a consensus between China and South Korea."

"The development of China-South Korea relations stems from the common interests of both sides, does not target a third party, and should not be influenced by third-party factors," Guo Jia-kun pointed out. The Chinese side maintains continuity and stability in its policy toward South Korea. He hopes that South Korea will move in the same direction as China, work together to promote the continuous, healthy, and stable development of the China-South Korea strategic partnership."

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