Korean envoy to Ukraine comes home in first protest recall in 18 years
South Korea recalled its ambassador to Ukraine after Kyiv revealed the transfer of two North Korean prisoners of war to Seoul.
South Korean Foreign Minister Cho Hyun, right, and Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha pose for a photo prior to their talks at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Seoul on June 30.
YONHAP
Korea’s ambassador to Ukraine returned to Seoul on Saturday, two days after the government recalled the envoy in protest over Kyiv’s disclosure that two North Korean prisoners of war (POW) had been transferred to South Korea.
Ambassador Park Ki-chang arrived in Seoul on Saturday morning, according to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
Recalling an ambassador from a host country is considered one of the strongest forms of diplomatic protest. It ranks above communication through diplomatic channels, public statements and summoning the other country’s envoy.
It is the first time in 18 years that Seoul has recalled an ambassador in protest. The last time was in 2008, when it recalled its ambassador to Japan.
The dispute began when Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said in his address to the United Nations General Assembly on Sept. 23 that Ukraine had sent two North Korean POWs to South Korea.
Two North Korean soldiers were taken prisoner in 2025 after fighting alongside Russian forces in the war against Ukraine. North Korea deployed troops to Russia, where they took part in combat operations in the Kursk region.
Seoul says the two sides had agreed not to disclose the transfer, to protect the safety of the soldiers and their families still in North Korea.
Ukraine maintains that it did not break any agreement.
Heorhii Tykhyi, spokesperson for Ukraine’s foreign ministry, said on Wednesday that the public exchange of criticism stemmed from different interpretations of the agreement on how confidentiality would be kept.
Before the recall, Ukraine invited the South Korean ambassador to its foreign ministry during the week to explain its position and look for constructive solutions, according to Tykhyi. After Seoul announced the recall, Tykhyi noted that “Ukraine remains open to resuming a constructive dialogue — even if it takes time.”
“The government hopes all pending issues between the two countries will be resolved smoothly, and will continue consultations with the Ukrainian side to this end,” Seoul's Foreign Ministry said in announcing the recall.
It remains unclear whether Kyiv will recall its chargé d’affaires in Seoul in response. Ukraine’s ambassador post in South Korea has been vacant since September 2025.
BY SEO JI-EUN [[email protected]]
