Lee Do-hoon, former South Korean ambassador to Russia, speaks during the Special Thursday Lecture organized by Kookmin University on its campus in northern Seoul, May 28. Courtesy of Kookmin University
Lee Do-hoon, former South Korean ambassador to Russia, emphasized the importance of balance in diplomacy in a lecture held last week at Kookmin University.
“The essence of diplomacy lies in reconciling differing interests and finding practical common ground,” he said during the 668th Special Thursday Lecture organized by the university on its campus in northern Seoul on May 28.
The school said that in his lecture on Korea-Russia relations, Lee discussed how to view the bilateral ties amid rapidly changing global dynamics, while highlighting firsthand observation and analysis as essential tools for understanding international affairs.
“International affairs cannot be viewed through a simple lens of good and evil. Therefore, we should consider the historical backgrounds and interests of individual countries,” a university official quoted Lee as saying.
Lee cited the changes in Korea-Russia relations following the outbreak of the war in Ukraine as an example, underscoring the importance of balanced diplomacy and strategic judgment.
He pointed out that Russia remains a major political and military power whose policies are shaped by its historical experiences and security concerns.
Lee served as South Korean envoy to Russia between 2023 and 2025. He was also special representative for Korean Peninsula peace and security affairs from 2017 to 2020.
He said Russia highly values the potential for cooperation with South Korea and that issues such as North Korea’s nuclear program and security on the Korean Peninsula cannot be addressed without Russia’s involvement.
Lee outlined Russia’s Arctic development plans and Far East development initiatives, predicting that South Korean companies could play a greater role in Arctic shipping routes and energy and infrastructure cooperation after the war with Ukraine ends.
Source: Korea Times News
