Son of former South Korean president formally appointed as ambassador to China

By Anadolu staff

ANKARA (AA) - Ro Jae-hun, the eldest son of former South Korean President Roh Tae-woo, has been formally appointed as the country’s new ambassador to China, local media reported Thursday.

Ro, chairman of the East Asia Culture Center, will serve as the first top envoy to Beijing under the Lee Jae Myung government launched in June, Yonhap News Agency reported, citing the Foreign Ministry.

His appointment ends the months-long vacancy in the key diplomatic post following the departure in January of Ambassador Chung Jae-ho, who served during the previous government of Yoon Suk Yeol.

Ro, 60, is neither a career diplomat nor a key political figure but has engaged in multiple activities related to China, including serving as an adviser to an international advisory council of the Chinese city of Chengdu in 2016 and participating in exchange programs related to China.

The Lee administration, which seeks to strengthen relations with Beijing, is likely to have viewed Ro as a suitable figure to improve bilateral ties, given his "expertise on China that he built up beyond what is publicly known," according to an official of the ruling Democratic Party.

His appointments has widely been regarded as a decision reflecting his family background. His father, who served as president from 1988 to 1993, is known for his "Northern Policy," a diplomatic drive that sought to expand relations with socialist countries considered traditionally close to North Korea.

China and South Korea formally established diplomatic relations in August 1992. The trade volume between South Korea and China reached $267.6 billion in 2024.