Cho Hyun: Veteran diplomat with broad global, trade experience
Cho previously held the roles of first and second vice foreign minister, and served as South Korea's ambassador to the UN — all under the liberal Moon Jae-in administration, overlapping with the first Trump presidency.
'He is expected to take an active role in addressing key pending matters such as tariff negotiations and Middle East affairs,' Presidential Chief of Staff Kang Hoon-sik said during a briefing Monday.
Cho's diplomatic career includes serving as ambassador to India from 2015 to 2017, and as ambassador to Austria and permanent representative to international organizations in Vienna from 2011 to 2014. He also held the post of deputy permanent representative to the UN in New York from 2006 to 2008.
Within the Foreign Ministry, Cho has held numerous high-level positions, including deputy minister for multilateral and global affairs, ambassador for energy and resources, and director-general of the Ministry's International Economic Affairs Bureau.
Cho was involved in negotiations for a Korea-Japan free trade agreement and served as chief negotiator for the Korea-Mexico FTA.
Cho received a Ph.D. in international politics from the University of Toulouse in France in 2008, and holds M.A. degrees from the School of Political Science in Paris and from Columbia University. Cho earned his bachelor's degree in political science and diplomacy from Yonsei University in Seoul.
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![[Editorial] Securing a fair deal](/_next/image?url=https%3A%2F%2Fall-logos-bucket.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fkoreaherald.com.png&w=48&q=75){kind=small}
Korea Herald
2 hours ago
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[Editorial] Securing a fair deal
Korea must secure tariff terms no worse than Tokyo's as investment and export stakes grow As Japan and the United States conclude a high-profile tariff agreement, attention has quickly turned to South Korea. Tokyo's willingness to open its agricultural market, commit to joint energy projects and pledge a record-breaking $550 billion in US-bound investment has earned it a reduction in reciprocal tariffs from 25 percent to 15 percent — a benchmark now hardening into a minimum standard for Washington's other major trading partners. South Korea finds itself in a more compressed timeframe. The bilateral 2+2 ministerial trade talks scheduled for July 25 in Washington were postponed because US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent had an urgent scheduling conflict. Seoul's Finance Minister Koo Yun-cheol was informed just before departure, though Korean industry and trade officials already in Washington are continuing working-level consultations. Seoul has emphasized that the postponement does not reflect any change in negotiating intent. But with the reciprocal tariffs slated to resume on Aug. 1, time is growing short. The Japan-US deal has raised the stakes. In addition to securing a 10-point tariff cut, Japan agreed to increase US rice imports by 75 percent, purchase 100 Boeing aircraft and participate in the Alaskan liquefied natural gas project. The US government claims the agreement will generate hundreds of thousands of domestic jobs and boost strategic industries. For South Korea, where more than 60 percent of 2024's $66 billion trade surplus with the US came from automobiles, a failure to match Tokyo's deal could erode competitiveness in a key export sector. Automakers like Hyundai and Kia, which compete directly with Japanese peers in the US market, would be particularly exposed. In anticipation of this, Seoul has assembled a proposed investment package exceeding $100 billion, drawing on commitments from major conglomerates such as Samsung, SK, Hyundai and LG. The plan, modeled loosely on Japan's, may expand further as talks progress. Additional participation in LNG development, including through public financial institutions, is also under review. However, Tokyo's massive pledge — roughly double Korea's in proportionate terms — and its acceptance of politically sensitive concessions raise the bar significantly. Washington's pressure tactics remain blunt. US President Donald Trump has warned that only countries that open their markets will be rewarded with lower tariffs, threatening 'much higher' duties otherwise. His administration has also criticized South Korea's non-tariff barriers, from digital platform regulations to agricultural restrictions. While Seoul has ruled out rice and beef as bargaining chips, citing food security, the government is reportedly exploring other forms of market access, including in digital trade and manufacturing partnerships. In parallel, Seoul must navigate additional entanglements. US demands around defense cost sharing, semiconductor collaboration and regulation of Korean digital platforms all intersect with the trade agenda. Meanwhile, reports indicate the European Union may also be nearing a 15 percent tariff agreement with Washington — a sign that may further isolate South Korea unless it can close a deal soon. Tokyo's agreement is not without trade-offs. Much remains unclear about the terms and timelines of Japan's commitments. But the symbolism of its 15 percent tariff outcome is already shaping expectations. For South Korea, the goal must be to avoid terms materially worse than those given to Japan or the EU. Any outcome perceived as inferior would carry real consequences, both economically and diplomatically. Protecting high-employment, high-surplus sectors such as automobiles and steel must be a central priority. To that end, South Korea's negotiators must aim for a calibrated strategy: offering proportionate concessions, targeting returns in industrial cooperation and investment, and securing transition support for exposed sectors. As deadlines near and peer deals take shape, the challenge is no longer just to reach an agreement, but to secure terms that protect South Korea's standing in its most critical export market.
Korea Herald
12 hours ago
- Korea Herald
Seoul, Tokyo top diplomats vow to strengthen ties in 1st phone call
Foreign Minister Cho Hyun on Thursday held his first phone call with his Japanese counterpart, Takeshi Iwaya, discussing regional issues and bilateral relations, the foreign ministry said. During the conversation, Cho stressed the importance of Seoul-Tokyo relations, describing them as a key axis of the South Korean government's pragmatic diplomacy, alongside trilateral cooperation with Washington. Cho, who took office on Monday, suggested the two countries work to build a more solid, future-oriented relationship based on mutual trust and understanding. The Japanese foreign minister congratulated Cho on his appointment and expressed his desire to continue and strengthen their close cooperation, according to the ministry. The ministry added both ministers agreed on the need to deepen mutual understanding and work closely together across various sectors, especially in light of complex global challenges. (Yonhap)
![[Contribution] Names we must never forget](/_next/image?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwimg.heraldcorp.com%2Fnews%2Fcms%2F2025%2F07%2F24%2Fnews-a.v1.20250724.948793676b2947b0989a2cd4209072c0_T1.png&w=3840&q=100)
Korea Herald
17 hours ago
- Korea Herald
[Contribution] Names we must never forget
By Jeong Ji-hyun In June 1950, the outbreak of the 1950-53 Korean War turned the entire peninsula into a battlefield. Yet in that desperate momeant, Korea was not alone. Young soldiers, from 16 combatant nations and six countries who sent medical support, united under the United Nations flag, answered the call to defend a distant land in the name of freedom. Despite differences in language and culture, their noble sacrifice laid the foundation for the peace and freedom we cherish today. To honor their noble service and sacrifice, the Ministry of Patriots and Veterans Affairs of Republic of Korea has designated July 27 — the day the Korean War armistice agreement was signed in 1953 — as UN Forces Participation Day since 2010. Every year, an official ceremony is held to commemorate and honor UN troops who fought fearlessly by our side, ensuring that that their names are not forgotten, but remembered with dignity and gratitude and to remind us that freedom is not something we given freely but something we secured at great cost. The ministry spares no effort to assure that these valiant heroes are not left behind in history; strengthening ties with UN allies, maintaining national cemeteries and memorials across the country and expanding support for veterans so that our gratitude and respect reaches them in meaningful ways. Especially, in 2023, to mark the 70th anniversary of the armistice, the ministry produced and distributed specially designed symbolic uniforms for Korean War Veterans. These uniforms served as a visible expression of nationwide respect and gratitude so that our veterans are remembered not only in official ceremonies, but in the everlyday lives of our people. Yet no matter how well-prepared these policies or programs may be, the true meaning of honoring patriotic heroes carries on only through the remembrance and gratitude of our people. A single flower placed at a memorial, a respectful bow to veterans, a sincere word of thanks: These small gestures keep alive the names and stories of these heroes and sustain the spirit of the nation. As July 27 — UN Forces Participation Day — approaches, I hope we all take a moment to remember that peace we cherish today is never given freely. Across the country, numerous memorials and cemeteries have been established to honor the service and sacrifice of UN forces who fought during the Korean War. These sacred sites — including the United Nations Memorial Cemetery in Busan — stand as lasting tributes to the heroes who gave their lives for a country not their own. These sites offer a space to reflect, remember and give thanks. A visit to these UN forces related places is more than a symbolic gesture. It is an act of remembrance that reaffirms our gratitude. Let us strive to be a country that remembers its veterans not as anonymous figures, but as individuals with names, stories and everlasting legacies. This is the path we must walk together to make a true culture of honoring and the promise we must uphold together. Jeong Ji-hyun is an assistant director of the veterans affairs division at the Seoul Regional Office of Patriots and Veterans Affairs. The Seoul Regional Office of Patriots and Veterans Affairs is affiliated with the Ministry of Patriots and Veterans Affairs and is responsible for veterans affairs in 12 districts in Seoul. The views expressed in this article are the writer's own. — Ed.
