Seoul needs to engage in practical diplomacy

Russia will hold events marking the 70th anniversary of its victory in World War II on Saturday. The events are very significant to Russia, which believes that it saved the world from Nazi Germany`s invasion at the cost of an estimated 30 million Russian lives.

South Korea will send Yoon Sang-hyun, a special political advisor for President Park Geun-hye, to Russia as a special envoy. The decision was made in consideration of the situation, in which most Western countries are boycotting the event in Russia, which is under sanctions for the Ukrainian crisis. Russian Ambassador to South Korea Alexander Timonin told South Korean reporters last month that he had "no complaint" about President Park not visiting Russia "because of her schedule." However, can we take his remarks at face value?

A well-informed source on Russia tipped off about how seriously Moscow took the decision, saying that the Kremlin went as far as to considering not allowing the South Korean envoy to meet with Russian President Vladimir Putin as well as opposing the envoy`s Russia visit itself. In fact, Moscow has caused delays in planned announcements of some major cooperation projects with Seoul by finding faults with them without any particular reason. Such an attitude is an expression of Russia`s discontent.

Recently, the South Korean government has come under fire for its diplomatic bungling in various issues including history rows with Japan. However, Seoul would lose opportunities to bond with other major countries if it remains mired in "hot" issues. "Even though Russia has declined from what it was during the Cold War era, it was a country that rivaled the United States on a global scale," said a middle-level diplomat. "Russia still can show a decisive blow at crucial moments, as it did when it used its central bank to help resolve the issue of financial sanctions on North Korea over Banco Delta Asia and removed the headaches of the U.S. and China."

Through a "Neo-Pragmatic Diplomacy" series, the Dong-A Ilbo urged the South Korean government to get out of its frame and engage in diplomacy in which it plays a leading role in making a breakthrough. The paper did not just called on Seoul to pay attention to diplomacy with Japan. Has Seoul not imposed the diplomatic chaos on itself by engaging in "reactive diplomacy" of waiting for Japan to comment on history issues and belatedly condemn it? Without boldly and proactively setting a frame, new diplomatic difficulties will occur.