Korean Ambassador to the United States Cho Hyun-dong attends a press meeting at the Korean Cultural Center in Washington, D.C., Nov. 26, 2024. Yonhap

Korean Ambassador to the United States Cho Hyun-dong will attend the inauguration of incoming U.S. President Donald Trump next week, the foreign ministry said Thursday.

"As per protocol, the ambassador to the U.S. plans to attend Trump's inauguration as the government representative," a ministry official told reporters.

Cho's planned attendance is in line with the U.S. diplomatic practice where ambassadors and their spouses stationed in Washington are invited to the event, the official said.

No invitation has reportedly been sent to Foreign Minister Cho Tae-yul.

The official said Korea has been in talks with its ally to arrange in-person communication with Trump's side at the earliest date possible, including a potential visit by the foreign minister.

In its policy plans for 2025, the foreign ministry has said the government will push for robust high-level exchanges with the incoming Trump administration this year to ensure the steady development of the bilateral alliance. (Yonhap)