President Lee Jae Myung (second from left) on Sept. 29 poses for a photo with Minister of Foreign Affairs Cho Hyun after receiving the credentials of new European Union Ambassador Ugo Astuto (left) at the Office of the President in Seoul. (Yonhap News)

By Yoon Sojung

President Lee Jae Myung on Sept. 29 received credentials from seven newly appointed ambassadors and urged them to play a bridging role between Korea and their home countries.

The seven diplomats attending the ceremony were ambassadors Ugo Astuto (European Union); Philippe Lafortune (Canada); Bartosz Wisniewski (Poland); Nadine Olivieri Lozano (Switzerland); Mikael Hemniti Winther (Denmark); Tanel Sepp (Estonia); and Wong Kai Jiun (Singapore).

President Lee welcomed the ambassadors and asked them to play a bridging role during their terms to develop bilateral ties in diverse ways and offer more tangible benefits to both Koreans and the natives of the seven countries.

He also urged more interest in sectors Korea is strong in such as artificial intelligence, cutting-edge technologies and the defense industry for Korea and to closely work together with them as Korea raises its presence on the global stage as an internationally responsible power.

The seven ambassadors expressed active support for Seoul's efforts to ease tension and establish peace on the Korean Peninsula, asking the president to visit their countries at a convenient time as an opportunity to expand bilateral relations.

arete@korea.kr