On January 4th (local time), Iranian Revolutionary Guards are chasing a Korean oil tanker, the Korean Chemie, in the Gulf Sea. AP Yonhap News
Prime Minister Jeong Sye-gyun is scheduled to visit Iran soon. This is the first and last overseas visit during the prime minister’s tenure due to Corona 19. It is reported that the release of Korean ships and captains detained in Iran for the third month is imminent, and it is known that he will drop the post of prime minister soon after returning to Korea. Comprehensive coverage between the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Prime Minister’s Office shows that discussions between the two governments over the release of the captain and the Korean Chemiho were detained by the Iranian Revolutionary Guard for violating the Iranian Marine Environment Act in the Gulf Sea on January 4. An official in the Prime Minister’s Office said on the 6th, “I know that the necessary procedures for the release (of the ship and the captain) have been completed. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs has negotiated everything,” he said. Earlier this month, both the Prime Minister’s Office and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs confirmed that the Korea-Iran negotiations over the captain’s release were almost finished. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs said that Iran could make a related announcement as early as the 5th. When the Iranian government delivered news of the release of the ship and the captain, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs is said to have been preparing to respond immediately. In this context, Prime Minister Chung’s “Iran” was promoted. An official in the Prime Minister’s Office explained, “(The Prime Minister’s visit to Iran) seems to have reflected the request of the Iranian side.” An official from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs also noted that the pursuit of Prime Minister Chung’s visit to Iran was in terms of “improving bilateral relations” but “Iran hoped”. Iran, ahead of the June presidential election, is becoming sensitive as negotiations over the return of the Iranian Nuclear Agreement (JCPOA), in which President Donald Trump unilaterally withdrew in May 2018, as well as $7 billion frozen in South Korea. From the perspective of Iranian President Hassan Rohan, a moderately intricate political situation both inside and outside, it seems that the prime minister of South Korea, an ally of the United States, visited Tehran and wanted to show his sincerity. That’s not the only story of Prime Minister Chung’s visit to Iran. It is said that Prime Minister Chung’s own willingness to visit also worked. Former Prime Minister Lee Nak-yeon conducted active’two-top diplomacy’ with President Moon Jae-in, but Prime Minister Chung played little diplomatic role due to the aftermath of Corona 19. A government official said, “The prime minister was always thinking of the diplomatic role,” and “this visit reflects the will of the prime minister.” An official from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs also said, “I heard that (Prime Minister Jung) my will was strong.” Previously, Prime Minister Chung attended the inauguration ceremony of President Rohany as president of the National Assembly in 2017 and interviewed. This experience with Iran also seems to have influenced Prime Minister Chung’s pursuit of his visit. Regarding Prime Minister Chung’s visit to Iran, the Prime Minister’s office explained that it meant that Prime Minister Chung, who visited Iran during the days when Korea-Iran relations were good, will help restore relations between the two countries, which have been deteriorated by the US sanctions against Iran. In the position of’politician Jeong Sye-gyun’ who is aiming for the next presidential power, it may have been calculated that it can be used as a good thing to raise a relatively low presence among passport candidates. However, the Iranian announcement released on the 5th did not meet the government’s expectations. Iran’s Foreign Ministry spokesman Said Hativjade said at a briefing on the 5th, “All investigations (around the Korea Chemie) were conducted in a direction that would benefit the ship. The (Iran) judiciary is also taking a positive approach to this day. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs has submitted an opinion on the vessel to the judiciary, and the judiciary will make a final decision.” It was a positive announcement, but it was not at a level that would dramatically make Prime Minister Chung’s trip to Iran. As a result, the schedule of Prime Minister Chung’s visit to Iran is also being delayed. Foreign Ministry spokesman Choi Young-sam said at a regular briefing on the 6th, “We are closely watching the review and announcement by Iranian judicial authorities. We sincerely look forward to the announcement of the good news that the detention of our vessels will be lifted.” By Kim Ji-eun and No Ji-won, staff reporter [email protected]