Director of the Korea Strategy InstituteThe Essence of Diplomacy is 'Protecting Citizens'

Recently, Koreans have been shocked and angered by a series of kidnapping and confinement incidents targeting Korean nationals in Cambodia. The reports of young people, lured by criminal organizations exploiting the desire for quick high returns and the sharp decline in domestic jobs, being held captive and tortured, and then being told by the embassy that they could not be helped because it was "outside of business hours," forces us to re-examine the fundamental purpose of diplomacy.

Diplomacy is about protecting citizens before national interests. National interests are ultimately established in the process of protecting the lives and dignity of citizens. If diplomats forget this mission, diplomacy is nothing more than a hollow shell, like a beautiful but useless fruit.

While we have heard stories about defectors requesting assistance from the Chinese embassy and not receiving adequate responses on several occasions, stories of individuals being systematically involved in crimes and unable to return have only been heard as if from a movie.

Systemic Flaws and On-the-Ground Limitations

Reports of kidnapping in Cambodia surged from about ten cases in 2022 to 330 cases in 2024. This figure indicates a flaw in the national response system, not just isolated incidents. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs has explained that "contact is possible via emergency calls outside of business hours" and sends text messages about consular assistance when traveling abroad, but in reality, there were insufficient personnel and systems in place for immediate response during crises.

Embassy personnel are tied up with administrative, ceremonial, and reporting duties, leaving them with insufficient capacity to focus on the core mission of 'protecting citizens.' Even the local Korean community laments that "rapid response is difficult when problems arise." It is now time to institutionalize a '24-hour response system' for diplomatic missions and establish a specialized consular officer system for crisis response.

The demand from citizens to deploy the military to rescue abducted nationals abroad was so strong that it was even suggested to use military force for their rescue. When a plane crashed while attempting to rescue a few American citizens, more focus was placed on the American citizens than on the deaths of the soldiers.

The content emphasized that the deployed soldiers died while carrying out their rescue mission, highlighting that they can die in the line of duty and stressing the reason for the military's existence. The discussion in the National Assembly to deploy the military for rescue implies a directive to rescue citizens using military force, rather than a declaration of war.

The movie "Black Hawk Down" depicts the process of rescuing helicopter crew members who were shot down while on such a mission.

Diplomat Personnel Policy: For Professional Dignity, Not Political Favors

Recently, some key ambassadorial posts have remained vacant for extended periods, or individuals with unverified diplomatic expertise have been repeatedly appointed as political favors. This practice severely damages the morale of professional diplomats who have diligently worked for national interests in the field for decades.

The public perceives the quality of diplomacy through its personnel appointments. If people understood the hardships faced by frontline diplomats in protecting national interests abroad, such appointment practices that cast political shadows on their dedication would never be tolerated. The government must restore trust by implementing personnel policies that respect the careers and dedication of professional diplomatic personnel and by promptly filling the vacancies in key diplomatic posts.

Diplomacy is not an extension of domestic politics or a means of political reward; it is a core foundation of national governance.

Distinguishing Public and Private Matters and Reorganizing Diplomat Education

The duty of a diplomat is a public mission, not a personal convenience. The practice of some political appointees using diplomatic missions as private spaces, demanding menial tasks, or expecting diplomats to act as tourist guides, thus preventing them from focusing on their primary duties, must be eradicated.

Furthermore, consular assistance practical training, crisis management simulations, and public communication training must be strengthened in the diplomat selection and education process. A true diplomat must not only be adept at languages and documents but also capable of saving citizens in moments of crisis.

Diplomacy's Trust Originates from the People

Diplomacy that protects national interests is only possible on the foundation of public trust. When diplomats inspire confidence in the people, the citizens understand and support their hard work. Conversely, when diplomacy becomes a tool of power, the public turns away.

The situation in Cambodia is not merely an overseas criminal incident; it is a warning that prompts us to re-examine the fundamental nature of South Korean diplomacy. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the government must take this incident as an opportunity to implement diplomatic policies and personnel reforms that prioritize the protection of citizens.

The Dignity of Diplomacy

Even at this moment, diplomats are diligently working around the world for national interests and the safety of citizens. Their dedication should not be overshadowed by political interests. At the heart of diplomacy must be only the citizens, and diplomats exist to protect those citizens.

The government must move towards professional diplomacy instead of political appointments, proactive protection instead of reactive responses, and accountable diplomacy instead of bureaucratic excuses. That is the true duty of diplomacy and the dignity of a civilized nation.

Ju Eun-sik, Director of the Korea Strategy Institute