Outgoing Foreign Minister Park Jin on Wednesday said South Korea’s diplomatic initiative will kick into full swing this year as a nonpermanent member of the U.N. Security Council.

“I believe that South Korea’s status has reached the point where it is on par with the Group of Seven (G7) countries, and our national power has expanded significantly,” Park told reporters as he arrived at the ministry on his last day in office.

“I feel a great sense of accomplishment,” he added.

The G7 consists of the United States, Britain, Canada, France, Germany, Italy and Japan.

He also pointed out President Yoon Suk Yeol’s vision of South Korea as a “global pivotal state” will be “in full swing” this year as it began a two-year term as a nonpermanent UNSC member.

Park, a four-term lawmaker with extensive expertise on foreign affairs, took up the post in May 2022 as the first foreign minister under the Yoon administration.

Cho Tae-yul, a former South Korean ambassador to the United Nations, is set to replace Park.

Sou
rce: Yonhap News Agency