Foreign Minister Cho Hyun is responding to questions from lawmakers at a plenary session of the Foreign Affairs and Unification Committee held at the National Assembly in Yeouido, Seoul, on March 17 2026.3.17 / News1

The National Assembly's Foreign Affairs and Unification Committee (FAUC) will convene on Wednesday for a plenary session to address critical issues. These include the ongoing conflict in Iran, the 5th Basic Plan for Inter-Korean Relations Development, the Trump administration's nomination of a new U.S. ambassador to South Korea, and the controversy surrounding President Lee Jae Myung's social media comments on Israel. Foreign Minister Cho Hyun and Unification Minister Chung Dong-young are slated to attend.

Political insiders report that the FAUC will initiate its first plenary meeting at the National Assembly. The agenda includes processing amendments to the Overseas Koreans Act and its alternatives, followed by discussions on current affairs and a briefing on the Inter-Korean Relations Development Basic Plan.

The ongoing discussions are expected to center on the worsening Middle East situation, stemming from recent U.S.-Israel-Iran tensions, heightened concerns in the Strait of Hormuz, strategies for safeguarding overseas citizens, energy supply challenges, and diplomatic responses.

It's worth noting that the FAUC previously held an emergency session last month to address the Iran crisis and North Korea policy.

Another key topic is the Unification Ministry's 5th Basic Plan for Inter-Korean Relations Development. Last month, the government reviewed a new blueprint for 2026-2030 at the Inter-Korean Relations Development Committee, proposing Peaceful Coexistence and Joint Growth on the Korean Peninsula as its central vision.

This approach marks a shift from the Yoon Suk Yeol administration's focus on denuclearization, potentially sparking debates over the prioritization of denuclearization efforts and the policy of not pursuing forceful reunification.

On U.S.-South Korea relations, President Donald Trump's recent nomination of Michelle Park Steel, a Korean-American former congresswoman, as the new U.S. ambassador to South Korea on Monday is likely to be a significant point of discussion. If confirmed by the Senate, Steel would fill the ambassadorial vacancy left by Philip Goldberg's departure in January last year.

The committee is also expected to address the recent controversy surrounding President Lee's social media posts criticizing Israel's human rights record. These comments sparked backlash from Israel and accusations of diplomatic missteps from opposition parties. While the ruling party defends the statements as upholding universal human rights values, critics argue they've escalated diplomatic tensions amid the ongoing Middle East crisis.

Given these pressing issues, the FAUC session is anticipated to focus more on debating responses to the Middle East crisis, new strategies for inter-Korean relations, the U.S. ambassador nomination, and the Israel-related diplomatic controversy, rather than on legislative procedures.

The National Assembly's Foreign Affairs and Unification Committee (FAUC) will convene on W …

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