AI-Summary – News For Tomorrow
President Lee Jae Myung’s administration nominated Roh Jae-heon, son of former President Roh Tae-woo, as South Korea’s ambassador to China, a move reported by local media and acknowledged by China. Roh, director of the East Asia Culture Center, accompanied Lee to China last month. He established the Korea-China Culture Center in 2012, marking two decades of relations initiated during his father’s presidency. However, the nomination has drawn criticism, with some calling it an “insult” to victims’ families of the Gwangju Democratic Uprising, due to Roh’s father’s association with the violent crackdown during the uprising.
News summary provided by Gemini AI.
The administration of South Korean President of South Korea Lee Jae Myung, pictured here at the White House on Aug. 25, had nominated Roh Jae-heon the eldest son of former South Korean President Roh Tae-woo, to serve as ambassador to China. Photo by Al Drago/UPI | License Photo
The nomination of Roh Jae-heon, 60, was reported Thursday by Yonhap, JoongAng Ilbo and other local media, citing unidentified diplomatic sources.
Roh, director of the East Asia Culture Center in Seoul, would become the first ambassador to China under the administration of President Lee Jae-myung, who was sworn in ln June 4.
China’s foreign ministry spokesman, Lin Jian, told reporters during a regular scheduled press conference on Thursday that he has noted the reports of Roh’s nomination.
“Diplomatic envoys are important bridges for friendly cooperation and development of relations between countries,” he said. “China is waiting for the ROK’s formal nomination.”
The Republic of Korea is the country’s official name.
He was among Lee’s delegation to China last month, just before a South Korea-U.S. summit in Washington.
Roh established the Korea-China Culture Center in 2012, which marked the 20th anniversary of the establishment of ties between the two countries, which occurred during his father’s presidency. The center has since been renamed the East Asia Culture Center.
Critics of the appointment called it an “insult” to the families of the victims of the Gwangju Democratic Uprising in 1980. Roh’s father was associated with a brutal military crackdown against the pro-democracy uprising in Gwangju.
