Diplomats, making dreams come true
A vivid career story told by a current diplomat

This book was written for aspiring diplomats who wish to work on the international stage.
This book covers a wide spectrum of stories, from how to become a diplomat to the work of diplomats, their daily lives at home and abroad, and various cases of diplomats.
This will give you a broader understanding of the professional world and a glimpse into what's happening inside and outside the embassy.
It will serve as a valuable guide not only for those aspiring to become diplomats, but also for anyone with a keen interest in international relations.

Whether it's patriotism and a sense of mission for your country, or a fateful pull, if you have a passion that burns your heart, I encourage you to pursue a career in diplomacy without hesitation.
If it's a special job that could serve your country and its people, and even change the fate of the nation, wouldn't it be worth knocking on the door with all your might?
--- p.24

When it comes to issues related to current affairs, it is important to note that there is a tendency to use past issues as themes that are linked or compared to current phenomena, as well as recent issues.
It is necessary to constantly check international affairs and current issues through the news.
It would be helpful to regularly read and summarize the key points of books that contain the perspectives and logic of international political experts on the international order and the changing dynamics of relations between nations.
--- p.105

To do well in an interview, the applicant must first and foremost understand why and what is being evaluated.
If you lack understanding of the interview, it is difficult to prepare and respond appropriately.
The interview in the diplomatic candidate selection exam is an opportunity to see whether the applicant can effectively demonstrate his or her abilities as a diplomat in the future.
To this end, the applicants' capabilities are assessed by presenting 'group in-depth discussion' and 'individual presentation' assignments on topics similar to actual diplomatic work.
The five assessment factors introduced in the previous section are the items for evaluating competency.
--- p.123

As a diplomat, acting with courage and conviction is not as easy as it sounds.
In bureaucratic society, there is a tendency to simply follow the trend without taking responsibility for one's own actions.
However, as diplomats are public officials who represent their country abroad, their actions have a very large national impact.
As a diplomat, you will inevitably encounter various situations in the field. To carry out your duties without wavering, you need conviction and courage above all else.
If you have the conviction that your work is for the sake of your country and its people, and the courage to move forward even when things are difficult and challenging, I believe you are already a great diplomat.
--- p.151

A generalist is someone who has a wide range of knowledge and skills, while a specialist is someone who has specialized knowledge in a specific field.
It is not easy to give a definitive answer to this question.
Because diplomacy itself is a specialized field, all diplomats can be considered specialists.
If I had to say, I think a diplomat should be a generalist, but also a specialist with his or her own field of expertise.
For example, if you have the ability to handle a wide range of tasks, including economics, culture, and consular affairs for overseas Koreans, while also having specialized knowledge and experience in the environmental field, you can be considered a generalist and a specialist at the same time.
--- p.181

Although it varies from diplomat to diplomat, roughly half of their time as diplomats is spent living abroad.
While working at an overseas mission, they lead a relatively comfortable life, enough to maintain their dignity as diplomats.
Living between Korea and a foreign country can make it difficult to educate your children, but being able to educate your children abroad without having to send them to study abroad is a huge benefit.
--- p.220

A diplomat must be able to throw himself into the service of his country and its people in times of crisis.
Crisis management skills are not developed overnight.
A diplomat may face moments of crisis and trial at any time or place.
No matter how great your diplomatic achievements may be, if you fail to properly handle a crisis, your tower of effort will collapse in an instant.
Diplomats must always be thoroughly prepared for crisis situations.
--- p.239

As of June 2015, there were approximately 4,900 women among the UN Secretariat's P-level and above staff, accounting for approximately 40%.
In the case of P2 level, which is a practical level, the number of female employees actually exceeds that of male employees.
Although women's advancement into the UN is gradually becoming more active, the reality is that men still make up more than three-quarters of the highest-ranking positions, including Under-Secretary-General and Assistant Under-Secretaries-General.
However, it is very encouraging that four of the nine candidates currently running for the position of the next UN Secretary-General are women.
--- p.271

As someone who has spent his entire life as a diplomat, there is something I really want to say to young people.
It means to always dream and never stop taking on new challenges.
The path of a diplomat may seem like a difficult and arduous journey.
On the scale of life, the weight of reality can sometimes be much heavier than dreams.
But there is no sea without waves.
I believe in the limitless potential of young people.
I hope you cherish yourself and your dreams.
If you embrace your dreams for the future with fervent conviction and a sense of mission, it will become a wonderful challenge that will transform not only the Republic of Korea but also humanity.
I hope you challenge your own potential and your dreams for the world.

--- p.303