Presidential Chief of Staff Kang Hoon-sik briefs reporters at Chunchugwan, Cheong Wa Dae, on the results of a mega-project public-private joint review meeting held that morning. [Yonhap]
Presidential Chief of Staff Kang Hoon-sik briefs reporters at Chunchugwan, Cheong Wa Dae, on the results of a mega-project public-private joint review meeting held that morning. [Yonhap]

Presidential Chief of Staff Kang Hoon-sik said Tuesday he was departing for Doha, Qatar, that night as President Lee Jae Myung's special condolence envoy to convey "the president's deep condolences and sympathy to King Tamim and the people of Qatar."

Kang said he hoped the visit would "serve as an occasion to reaffirm that South Korea and Qatar are partners who seek each other out even in difficult moments."

He made the remarks in a Facebook post, noting that former Qatari Emir Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani had died the previous Sunday.

Kang paid tribute to the late emir, describing him as "the architect of modern Qatar" who transformed the country from a nation that had once struggled greatly — including from the collapse of the pearl-diving industry — into one of the Middle East's leading wealthy states, with a per capita income exceeding $70,000 and a country that commands international attention. He added that Sheikh Hamad was widely respected for his gentle and unpretentious character, and that in 2013 he made "a beautiful decision" to voluntarily abdicate in favor of the current ruler, King Tamim, while still alive.

"I will convey the heartfelt condolences of the South Korean government and people to the Qatari royal family and its citizens, who have lost a great leader," Kang said.

Kang also spoke about the special relationship between the two countries. He said that during his April visit to Qatar as a presidential special envoy for strategic economic cooperation, King Tamim had proposed meeting again separately from the official talks. "We spoke candidly about the future of our two countries and each other's thinking, beyond any set agenda, and since that meeting there have been reciprocal visits and follow-up cooperation between officials of both sides," he wrote. "We are also preparing cooperation in new areas such as AI and culture, in addition to energy and shipbuilding."

Kang also explained why he was personally leading the condolence mission. He said Qatar had requested that the same chief of staff who visited in April be sent as the envoy. "I take this as an expression of sympathy for the sincere will to cooperate that the Lee Jae Myung administration has shown, and as an expression of Qatar's deep trust in South Korea," he said.

Kang went on to cite a Middle Eastern proverb: "A friend who stands by you in times of hardship is a true friend." He described it as a saying that captures the regional sentiment of long remembering those who stay close in the hardest moments. "I will faithfully carry out my mission — conveying South Korea's heartfelt comfort to a friendly nation in mourning, and working to deepen the friendship and cooperation between our two countries," he wrote.


moone@heraldcorp.com