France, Australia, the United Arab Emirates (UAE), Pakistan, New Zealand, Switzerland and UNESCO all share a distinction: none currently has a Korean ambassador or consul general in post.
The vacancies are part of a broader diplomatic gap that has widened since President Lee Jae Myung’s inauguration in June 2025. More than 15 senior career diplomats had held no titles for over three months according to a March 25 local report. Rep. Ahn Cheol-soo, a member of the National Assembly’s Foreign Affairs and Unification Committee, said 23 ambassadorial posts were vacant as of April 15.
As of April 20, The Korea Times confirmed that key missions — including France, Australia and the UAE among Korea’s 173 overseas diplomatic posts — remain without chiefs, as do consul general offices in major cities such as New York, Shanghai and Hong Kong.
Analysts and former diplomats point out that the prolonged vacancies are creating a diplomatic vacuum and weakening consular support for Korean nationals abroad, concerns that have sharpened as the Middle East crisis deepens.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs appointed three new ambassadors last week to the United Kingdom, Bahrain and the Dominican Republic, but dozens of vacancies remain.
Ahn raised the issue with Foreign Minister Cho Hyun, saying, “It could create a crisis if key ambassadorial posts in Middle Eastern countries such as the UAE, Pakistan, Bahrain and Egypt remain unfilled … Only an ambassador on the ground can swiftly gather accurate information and respond in a timely manner.”
Cho replied that the ministry is “proceeding with the swift appointment of new ambassadors and will dispatch high-ranking officials if necessary.”
The nameplate of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs at the main entrance of its headquarters in central Seoul / Korea Times file
The vacancies have persisted for nearly a year, stemming largely from the Lee administration’s recall of political appointees — non-career diplomats placed at embassies and consulates under former President Yoon Suk Yeol. Though the length of an ambassador’s term varies depending on circumstances, many were recalled after unusually short tenures. Former Ambassador to Australia Shim Seung-seob, a Yoon appointee, was brought home after less than a year, well short of the three-year average considered necessary to maintain diplomatic consistency.
Former diplomats pointed out that the prolonged vacancies seem to be driven by a lack of figures who are the right fit for the positions.
“The reshuffle came suddenly, leaving the foreign ministry short on resources. The process is taking time as the government appears to be searching for the right candidates from a wide range of backgrounds,” a former diplomat said on condition of anonymity.
Analysts say the situation is unsustainable, noting it could create various troubles in diplomacy.
“It has been almost a year since the Lee Jae Myung administration took office. As far as I recall, several specially appointed ambassadors were called back to Korea. There may be many reasons behind this, but when embassies are left without chiefs for an extended period, it creates problems both for the protection of Korean nationals and for conducting diplomacy with the host country,” Shin Yul, a political science professor at Myongji University, told The Korea Times.
The trend toward non-career ambassador appointments looks set to continue. Some reports suggest that more than 50 positions — roughly 40 percent of all ambassadorial and consul general posts — will ultimately be filled by non-career diplomats under the current administration. Some observers have gone further, suggesting that part of the delay is deliberate, with the administration holding posts open to reward political figures who contest but lose seats in the upcoming local elections.
Career foreign service officials say the shift is causing low morale within the foreign ministry, as the trend narrows their prospects.
“When I was a diplomat, most career officials eventually served as heads of embassies or consulates before retiring. Now, that proportion is much lower, which is why morale among diplomats has declined,” the former diplomat said, adding that the current administration seems not to “fully trust career diplomats.”
The official called on the ministry to strengthen its career officials’ capabilities and broaden their scope of work in an increasingly complex global environment.
“In today’s globalized world, foreign ministries in many neighboring countries wield more influence than that of Korea’s … Diplomats must also break down its closed walls and broaden their work across a wider range of fields,” he said.
