Korea to not send gov't delegation to Taiwanese presidential inauguration
이 글자크기로 변경됩니다.
(예시) 가장 빠른 뉴스가 있고 다양한 정보, 쌍방향 소통이 숨쉬는 다음뉴스를 만나보세요. 다음뉴스는 국내외 주요이슈와 실시간 속보, 문화생활 및 다양한 분야의 뉴스를 입체적으로 전달하고 있습니다.
South Korea will not send a government delegation to the inauguration of Taiwanese President-elect Lai Ching-te early next week, a Foreign Ministry official said Thursday.
Whether Seoul would dispatch a delegation to Lai's inauguration, set for Monday, had been a focus of attention as China has strongly opposed any moves that appear to recognize the island, which it considers to be part of its own, as an independent state.
"There is no plan for attendance by a government delegation. As far as I am aware, our representative to the South Korean mission in Taipei will attend," the official told reporters on condition of anonymity.
"It has been customary that the representative to the mission in Taipei attends the inauguration," the official said.
Rep. Lee Eun-ho is serving as the top Korean envoy to Taipei.
The official's comments came after Rep. Cho Kyoung-tae of the ruling People Power Party said he will attend the swearing-in ceremony at the invitation of the Taiwanese government, with the possibility of a few other fellow lawmakers joining Cho on the visit.
South Korea made the same decision for the inauguration of then-President-elect Tsai Ing-wen in 2016.
The decision has been largely seen as Seoul taking into account the importance of managing ties with Beijing.
South Korea cut off official diplomatic ties with Taiwan in 1992, when it established diplomatic relations with China.
In 1993, South Korea opened a mission in Taipei to maintain bilateral relations unofficially and continue cooperation in a substantive way.
Yonhap
Copyright © 코리아중앙데일리. 무단전재 및 재배포 금지.
- Teacher abuse on the rise amid weak protections
- Estranged wife of SK chairman claims husband spent over 100 billion won on live-in partner
- Seatless subway cars to be rolled out on Seoul's line No. 7 from Thursday
- Tottenham face challenge for Europa League as Chelsea beat Brighton
- Korean musical 'Il Tenore' extends run after rave reviews
- HYBE to seek probe over alleged insider trading by ADOR executive
- City gets sprinkle of rain before Seoul International Garden Show kicks off
- Rich get richer: Generational wealth gap widens as baby boomers sit on assets
- HYBE chairman 'repeatedly ignored NewJeans members,' according to parents
- Cultural Heritage Administration celebrates name change with free entry to historical sites