South Korean envoy attends Putin's inauguration despite Western boycott

South Korean Ambassador to Moscow Lee Do-hoon attended Russian President Vladimir Putin's inauguration ceremony in Moscow Tuesday, according to the Foreign Ministry.

Korean Ambassador to Russia Lee Do-hoon, second from right, is pictured with Foreign Minister Cho Tae-yul, third from right, and other heads of missions at an annual conference at the Foreign Ministry building in Jongno District, central Seoul, on April 26. [YONHAP]

South Korean Ambassador to Moscow Lee Do-hoon attended Russian President Vladimir Putin's inauguration ceremony in Moscow Tuesday, according to the Foreign Ministry.

Putin began his fifth six-year term as president on Tuesday.

Lee's attendance at the ceremony at the Kremlin, representing the Korean government, came despite the United States and many Western countries opting to boycott the event as Russia's war in Ukraine rages on.

Seoul's decision to send an official to the ceremony came after careful consideration of the need to manage bilateral relations between the two countries, according to sources, and its responsibility to protect Korean nationals and businesses in Russia.

The Kremlin considers the inauguration ceremony a domestic event and didn't invite foreign leaders, but it extended invitations to all heads of missions stationed in Russia, including those from countries it considers "unfriendly."

Lee is Seoul's former top nuclear negotiator and a North Korea issues expert.

President Yoon Suk Yeol has yet to send a congratulatory letter to Putin for his reelection.

In March 2022, Russia labeled South Korea an unfriendly nation, along with the United States, Britain, Australia, Japan and European Union countries.

Regarding Putin's reelection, U.S. State Department spokesman Matthew Miller said in a press briefing Monday, "We certainly did not consider that election free and fair, but he is the president of Russia and is going to continue in that capacity."

Tensions between Seoul and Moscow recently spread beyond the politics and security to the social and cultural spheres. A South Korean missionary was detained in Russia after being accused of espionage in March.

Last month, a gala in Seoul featuring principal dancers of Russia's Bolshoi Ballet was canceled a day before its opening.

BY SARAH KIM [kim.sarah@joongang.co.kr]