By Seo Soo-min
Staff Reporter

Outgoing Foreign Affairs-Trade Minister Yoon Young-kwan on Thursday urged fellow public servants and the public have a more balanced view of international issues to cope with the challenges South Korea faces.

In a farewell speech he gave to his staff at the ministry, Yoon made discreet criticisms targeting aides of President Roh Moo-hyun that try to steer the country on a nationalist diplomatic course. Although Yoon tendered his resignation that was immediately accepted by Roh, it is widely believed that he was sacked as a victim in an internal fighting in the Roh’s administration that pits pro-U.S. Foreign Ministry against the National Security Council (NSC) that is seen trying to be more independent of the U.S.

``Korea does not exist in an international vacuum, it exists in relations with other countries, and our national interest must be found in this reality,’’ he said.

``Some in the government, as well as the people and the opinion leaders, do not seem recognize this.’’

Yoon reiterated it is wrong to draw a line between those who are pro-U.S. and those who are not.

``For our diplomacy to become truly independent, we must all become globalists and have a clear understanding of where our national interests lay.’’

The foreign minister, whose 11 months in office came to an end due to disparaging remarks made by his ministry officials on the government’s foreign policy towards the United States, apologized for the incident.

``I apologize to the public and the president for not having been able to take command (to assist the president),’’ Yoon said. ``It’s due to my lack of virtue.’’

He went on to say that ties with the U.S. continue to be an important diplomatic asset that needs to be cherished for the peninsula’s future.

The former scholar urged that the six-nation talks must succeed and the North Korean economy must recover, leading to perennial peace on the Korean peninsula.

Minister Yoon will likely go back to his teaching job at Seoul National University, as he is technically on a leave.

ssm@koreatimes.co.kr