| Prime Minister Lee Nak-yon waves before leaving for a four-nation tour of Bangladesh, Tajikistan, Kyrgyzstan and Qatar at Seoul Airport in Seongnam, Saturday. Yonhap |
By Park Ji-won
The government should appoint a special envoy to seek a solution to the expanding trade feud with Japan, analysts said Wednesday.
They point to Prime Minister Lee Nak-yon as one such person who could seek a breakthrough, given his previous journalistic background and connections he made in Japan.
Fluent in Japanese, the journalist-turned-politician has an extensive network of Japanese contacts, including current Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe. The four-time ruling Democratic Party of Korea (DPK) lawmaker is also vice chairman of the Korea-Japan Parliamentarians' Union.
Speculation on his possible appointment was fueled by President Moon Jae-in talking of Lee's experience in advancing the country's diplomacy, during a Cabinet meeting Tuesday. Lee is on a four-nation tour of Bangladesh, Tajikistan, Kyrgyzstan and Qatar until July 22.
"Diplomacy has become increasingly important under this administration," the President said. "And the President alone cannot respond to all the demands of this."
These remarks came amid criticism that Lee has been overseas too often.
Regarding appointing Lee, Rep. Park Jie-won of the Party for Democracy and Peace (PDP) said Monday, "Former President Kim Dae-jung would have made a bold decision to resolve the issue. Lee, an expert on Japanese affairs, should go and have secret talks with his contacts."
Sohn Hak-kyu, chairman of the minor opposition Bareunmirae Party (BMP), also backed sending Lee, saying, "The conflict should be resolved diplomatically. It might be a good move to send Lee to Japan to resolve the issue."
According to political sources, Lee is looking to meet his Japanese contacts behind the scenes. He previously met with Fukushiro Nukaga, Japan's former finance minister and head of the Japan-Korea Parliamentarians' Union, when he was in Seoul in June.
Some are skeptical about Lee being of any use in resolving the complex diplomatic challenge.
"The Korea-Japan issue is one of the most difficult tasks to handle for any politician. If he is thinking of running for president, it might not be a good idea to be seen as a pro-Japanese figure," a political source said.