Presidential office maintains cautious stance on China Victory Day parade as conservative pundits signal support

President Lee Jae‑myung on Monday launched a diplomatic outreach campaign, dispatching special envoys to key partner countries to promote his administration’s foreign policy and economic agenda. On Sunday, the presidential office formally announced the heads of delegations for the European Union, France, the United Kingdom and India. The E.U. delegation, led by former environment minister Yoon Yeo-jun, departed Monday. The delegation to France, led by former justice minister Kang Kum-sil, is scheduled to depart Tuesday. On Wednesday, former justice minister and multi-term Democratic Party (DP) lawmaker Choo Mi-ae will lead the U.K. delegation with Park Sun‑won, a National Intelligence Service (NIS) official-turned DP lawmaker, while former prime minister Kim Boo-kyum will head the India delegation.

The office plans to dispatch envoys to 14 countries, including the United States, Japan and China — though delegation heads for those missions have not yet been announced. Local media report that Kim Jin-pyo, former National Assembly speaker, is tapped for Australia, and Park Jie-won, former NIS chief and current lawmaker, for Poland. Though unconfirmed, Chung Sye-kyun, a former prime minister, is reportedly under consideration for Japan, while former Assembly speaker Park Byeong-seug is reported as likely envoy to China. The U.S. delegation, expected to depart in late July, may be led by Kim Chong-in, an economist and a long-time king maker for multiple presidents and party leaders across the political aisle — a choice that has drawn ire from some within Lee’s own party.

President Lee Jae‑myung on Monday launched a diplomatic outreach campaign, dispatching special envoys to key partner countries to promote his administration’s foreign policy and economic agenda. On Sunday, the presidential office formally announced the heads of delegations for the European Union, France, the United Kingdom and India. The E.U. delegation, led by former environment minister Yoon Yeo-jun, departed Monday. The delegation to France, led by former justice minister Kang Kum-sil, is scheduled to depart Tuesday. On Wednesday, former justice minister and multi-term Democratic Party (DP) lawmaker Choo Mi-ae will lead the U.K. delegation with Park Sun‑won, a National Intelligence Service (NIS) official-turned DP lawmaker, while former prime minister Kim Boo-kyum will head the India delegation.

The office plans to dispatch envoys to 14 countries, including the United States, Japan and China — though delegation heads for those missions have not yet been announced. Local media report that Kim Jin-pyo, former National Assembly speaker, is tapped for Australia, and Park Jie-won, former NIS chief and current lawmaker, for Poland. Though unconfirmed, Chung Sye-kyun, a former prime minister, is reportedly under consideration for Japan, while former Assembly speaker Park Byeong-seug is reported as likely envoy to China. The U.S. delegation, expected to depart in late July, may be led by Kim Chong-in, an economist and a long-time king maker for multiple presidents and party leaders across the political aisle — a choice that has drawn ire from some within Lee’s own party.

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