Overview

• President Lee is considering former PPP interim leader Kim Chong-in alongside Democratic Party lawmakers Lee Un-ju and Kim Woo-young as special envoys to the United States.
• Other candidates under discussion include former Prime Minister Chung Sye-kyun for Japan, ex-Assembly Speaker Park Byeong-seug for China, former Speaker Kim Jin-pyo for Australia and Rep. Park Jie-won for Poland.
• The presidential office has held consultations with 14 countries on envoy dispatches and expects to announce the final roster next week.
• Envoys are charged with signaling that political order has been restored since last year’s martial law declaration and with supporting Seoul’s diplomatic push, though they will not negotiate specific agendas.
• National Security Adviser Wi Sung-lac and Trade Minister Yeo Han-koo traveled to Washington this week to address tariffs and broader alliance issues before the U.S. tariff pause expires Tuesday.