駐日大使に姜昌一氏　前議連会長の日本通―韓国

　【ソウル時事】韓国の文在寅大統領は２３日、南官杓・駐日大使の後任に、前国会議員で韓日議員連盟会長を務めた姜昌一氏（６８）を充てる人事を内定した。大統領府報道官が発表した。
　日韓関係は元徴用工問題などで対立が深まり、「戦後最悪」と呼ばれる関係が改善する兆しは見えていない。来夏の東京五輪を控え、文政権は日本通で政界にも人脈がある姜氏を起用し、関係の立て直しを図りたい考え。
　大統領府関係者は２３日、姜氏の人事について、菅義偉新政権発足に伴い、「韓日関係を改善するという大統領の意志が反映された」と説明した。
　姜氏は南部・済州島出身で、ソウル大学を卒業後、日本の東京大大学院で博士号を取得。２００４年に「開かれたウリ党」（現与党「共に民主党」）から出馬し、国会議員に初当選。４選を果たし、今年５月の任期満了に伴い、引退していた。（2020/11/23-17:05）

South Korean President Moon Jae-in on Monday decided to name former lawmaker Kang Chang-il, an expert on issues in Japan, as new ambassador to the country, a presidential spokesperson said.
   Relations between the two Asian neighbors are said to be at their worst in the postwar period due to wartime labor and other issues, with no signs of improvement on the horizon. It seems that the Moon administration hopes to rebuild the bilateral ties through the assignment of Kang, who also has connections with many Japanese politicians, to the Tokyo post in the lead-up to next year's Tokyo Summer Olympic and Paralympic Games.
   Kang, 68, who also previously served as head of a league of South Korean lawmakers promoting relations with Japan, will succeed incumbent South Korean Ambassador to Japan Nam Gwan-pyo.
   The appointment of Kang reflects Moon's willingness to improve the bilateral relations following the launch of the government of Japanese Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga in September, an official of the South Korean presidential office said.
   Kang, who is from the southern South Korean island of Jeju, earned a Ph.D. from the University of Tokyo after graduating from Seoul National University.