Chinese Ambassador to Korea Xing Haiming speaks during an interview with The Korea Times at the Chinese Embassy in Seoul, Aug. 17, 2023. Korea Times photo by Choi Won-suk

Chinese Ambassador to Korea Xing Haiming, one of the most talked-about ambassadors in Seoul, is set to end his mission after approximately four and a half years of service. He is expected to return to China on Wednesday.

Xing's tenure in Seoul, initially filled with high expectations for strengthened ties between the two Asian neighbors, ultimately was somewhat underwhelming.

Given that Xing served in both Pyongyang and Seoul before his ambassadorial role, he gained a reputation for possessing deep knowledge and experience in Korea-related affairs. This raised high hopes that he would foster friendly ties between the two nations.

However, just weeks after he took office in January 2020, the COVID-19 pandemic, originating from Wuhan, China, broke out in February 2020, souring the Korean public's view of China.

Further complicating his mission, Xing's outspoken profile created unease under the Yoon Suk Yeol government, which was inaugurated in May 2022. As China expressed displeasure with the Yoon administration's foreign policy of aligning with the United States and Japan, the Chinese envoy was quick to convey his government's stance.

During an interview with The Korea Times in August 2023, which took place just a day before the Camp David summit that saw the leaders of Korea, the U.S. and Japan gather, Xing stated, "China firmly opposes any acts targeting Beijing as a consequence of plans drawn up at the summit."

Chinese Ambassador to Korea Xing Haiming, left, gestures as he shows Rep. Lee Jae-myung, leader of the main opposition Democratic Party of Korea at the time, around his residence in Seongbuk District, Seoul, June 8, 2023. Joint Press Corps

The interview came two months after the envoy made headlines due to his confrontational remarks during a meeting with opposition Democratic Party of Korea (DPK) leader Rep. Lee Jae-myung in June. In the meeting, the envoy stated that Korea was to blame for the many difficulties in bilateral relations, and said Seoul was making a "wrong bet" by leaning toward the U.S. amid the intensifying rivalry between Washington and Beijing.

His confrontational remarks prompted some ruling party lawmakers to call for the Korean government to declare Xing as "persona non grata" and expel him. Korea's presidential office demanded that the Chinese government in Beijing take "appropriate measures" regarding Xing.

Following the diplomatic gaffe, it is believed that senior Korean diplomats have shunned meeting with Xing, forcing the ambassador to be less visible thereafter.

Xing paid a farewell visit to Foreign Minister Cho Tae-yul last Thursday, which was the outgoing envoy's first and last encounter with Korea's top diplomat, who took office in January this year.

Following the meeting with Cho, Xing told the local press that he "made many friends here and will never forget the bond with Korea." But he remained tight-lipped when asked if he had any regrets about his tenure.

The envoy's replacement comes amid a thaw in bilateral relations following a rare trilateral Korea-China-Japan summit in May, with Seoul and Beijing resuming high-level exchanges and the "two-plus-two" diplomatic and security dialogues.

While the next ambassador has not been appointed yet, some rumored candidates include the current ambassador to Myanmar, Chen Hai; the current ambassador to Vietnam, Xiong Bo and Chen Shaochun, deputy director-general of the department of Asian affairs.

Lee Sang-man, a China expert at the Institute of Far Eastern Studies at Kyungnam University, anticipated a high chance that Chen will assume the envoy role, describing him as a "seasoned diplomat in Korean affairs."

"There are some expectations among Korean officials that Xing's departure would signal China's willingness to recalibrate relationships. But that's wishful thinking. If Chen is appointed, bilateral relations could become difficult again as he is known for being a more assertive 'wolf warrior' diplomat than Xing," Lee said.