驻“四强”大使同时空缺，韩国政府外交遇“断层式考验”

Group 1 - The South Korean government recalled over 30 ambassadors and consuls, including key positions in the US, Japan, and Russia, leading to unprecedented vacancies in diplomatic roles among the four major powers surrounding the Korean Peninsula [1][2] - Concerns have arisen regarding the interruption of foreign communication and policy continuity due to the absence of ambassadors, particularly in light of ongoing US-China trade negotiations and sensitive geopolitical issues with Russia and China [2] - The lack of ambassadors, especially in the US and China, is viewed as a significant shortcoming in South Korea's diplomatic framework, potentially impacting the country's foreign strategy [2] Group 2 - The government has faced criticism for interfering with diplomatic continuity due to domestic political considerations, with calls for expedited appointments of ambassadors as the APEC leaders' informal meeting approaches in October [2] - Former Gangwon Province governor Lee Kwang-jae is considered a strong candidate for the ambassador to China, given his previous academic ties and publications related to China [3] - For the ambassador to the US, former First Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Lim Sung-nam and former National Diplomatic Academy President Cho Byung-joon are seen as leading candidates due to their extensive diplomatic experience [3]