World · East Asia & Pacific · 5 hrs ago
Former South Korean diplomat says major foreign policy gains often face early criticism
Former South Korean diplomat Shin Bu-nam has published a memoir drawing on his 36 years in diplomacy.
He calls the US-South Korea mutual defense treaty and free trade agreement major diplomatic achievements, despite the criticism they faced when negotiated.
Shin says leaders who make major diplomatic choices can be accused of giving too much away or acting too quickly, but may be pursuing long-term national interests.
He says it is too early to judge the current South Korean government’s practical diplomacy, and urges it to weigh national interests consistently.
The book also shares negotiation advice, including making proposals that could benefit both sides rather than simply insisting on one’s own demands.
On North Korea, Shin says diplomatic formulas and leaders’ resolve have limits, and that trust must be built gradually.
Former South Korean diplomat Shin Bu-nam says major diplomatic achievements often draw criticism when they are made but later become accepted.
In a recently published memoir, he cites the South Korea-US Mutual Defense Treaty and the South Korea-US free trade agreement as major achievements.
Shin says leaders who pursued such deals faced accusations of making excessive concessions, moving too quickly or betraying the country.
He said long-term national interests sometimes require leaders to accept political costs.
Shin also said it is too early to judge the current government’s “pragmatic diplomacy.”
- Who
- Shin Bu-nam, a former South Korean ambassador for climate change.
- What
- He says major diplomatic achievements can be controversial at the time but accepted by later generations.
- When
- He made the comments in a recently published memoir and at a book event on October 23.
- Where
- The book event was held at the Global Green Growth Institute in Seoul.
- Why
- He argues that leaders pursuing long-term national interests can face criticism and political costs.
This story does not have two clearly opposing sides.
Shin joined South Korea’s foreign ministry.
As ambassador for green growth, Shin helped launch the Global Green Growth Institute as an international organization.
Shin hosted a gathering of Asia-Pacific ambassadors at the South Korean ambassador’s residence in Bulgaria, attended by the Bulgarian president and North Korea’s ambassador.
Shin published his memoir, The Art of Consensus.
Shin spoke at a book event at the Global Green Growth Institute in Seoul.
- Diplomatic career
- 36 years
- Memoir
- The Art of Consensus
- South Korea-US treaty
- Mutual Defense Treaty
- South Korea-US agreement
- Free trade agreement
- Book event
- October 23 at the Global Green Growth Institute in Seoul
- 2018 gathering
- North Korea’s ambassador attended an event at the South Korean ambassador’s residence in Bulgaria
1 source
What people are saying
Great diplomacy is controversial in its own time and becomes obvious to later generations.
These decisions made South Korea what it is today.
The attitude of weighing every decision by national interest rather than ideological measurements must be maintained consistently throughout the term.