(LEAD) New FM Cho regrets diplomacy was politicized under previous gov't

▲ Foreign Minister Cho Hyun delivers remarks during the inauguration ceremony at the foreign ministry in Seoul on July 21, 2025. (Yonhap)

▲ Foreign Minister Cho Hyun (R) speaks during the inauguration ceremony at the foreign ministry in Seoul on July 21, 2025. (Yonhap)

(LEAD) FM-inauguration

(LEAD) New FM Cho regrets diplomacy was politicized under previous gov't

(ATTN: UPDATES article throughout with Cho's inauguration speech; CHANGES photos; RESTRUCTURES; TRIMS)

By Kim Seung-yeon

SEOUL, July 21 (Yonhap) -- Foreign Minister Cho Hyun on Monday issued a rare public apology for the ministry's past diplomatic conduct that he said had been misused for political purposes under the previous Yoon Suk Yeol government.

Cho made the remarks at his inauguration ceremony as the first foreign minister under President Lee Jae Myung, who took office last month following the ouster of Yoon over his botched martial law imposition in December.

"Over the past few years, diplomatic issues were used for domestic political purposes, and the field of diplomacy, where national interest and pragmatism should prevail, was often approached in a black-and-white manner," Cho said.

"As foreign minister, I offer my sincere apology to the public," he noted, adding the foreign ministry has failed to meet public expectations throughout the process and vowing to reform the organization to prevent a recurrence of such missteps.

In this time of growing geopolitical instability, establishing peace on the Korean Peninsula has to be South Korea's top diplomatic priority, Cho pointed out.

"We must work closely with the United States to ease tensions on the peninsula and create a path for dialogue with North Korea," he said, also stressing the need to make "tangible" progress in efforts toward resolving North Korea's nuclear issues.

Speaking to reporters ahead of the inauguration ceremony, Cho also vowed to work to reach a "win-win" deal in the ongoing tariff negotiations with the United States, with less than two weeks remaining before steep U.S. duties are set to take effect.

He emphasized that the negotiations with the U.S. should not be viewed as a "zero-sum" game but rather approached from a broader perspective to further strengthen the bilateral alliance.

"I think we should work to find a win-win solution ... our ministry should take a more macro-level view in shaping the future of our alliance with the U.S. ... (We) need to thoroughly examine all aspects of comprehensive packages," Cho told reporters upon arriving at the ministry.

"Tariff negotiations, to some extent, are perceived as a zero-sum game, but based on (my) past experience, non-zero-sum outcomes are always possible. I believe our ministry is well-positioned to help achieve such outcomes," he said.

Reciprocal tariffs, including 25 percent duties on South Korea, are slated to go into effect Aug. 1, unless the two sides reach a deal beforehand.

South Korea is striving to strike a deal with U.S. President Donald Trump's administration with hopes to secure exemptions or relief from both the reciprocal tariffs and sectoral tariffs on steel, aluminum and automobiles.

South Korea's National Security Adviser Wi Sung-lac is in Washington this week for the tariff talks with the U.S. side, his second trip to the U.S. this month alone.

New finance and industry ministers, appointed by President Lee, along with Foreign Minister Cho, are said to be planning visits to the U.S.

Cho said the date of his U.S. visit has not yet been decided.

Asked about how he plans to address thorny history issues with Japan, Cho said that merely holding out hopes or pressuring Tokyo would not make the situation any better.

"I believe we need to approach this with perseverance and patience," he said. "It's important to ensure that these issues do not become an obstacle in the efforts toward developing bilateral relations into a future-oriented partnership," he said.

Cho, a retired veteran diplomat and former vice foreign minister, was confirmed by the National Assembly on Friday.

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