Pres. Moon asks world leaders for support in S. Korea's WTO leadership bid

문 대통령, 유명희 지원 강행군... 각국 정상들과 줄줄이 통화Back at the nation's top office, the South Korean president was also busy making endorsement requests to his counterparts around the world.He's been engaged in "telephone diplomacy" for the last couple of weeks seeking endorsement for Trade Minister Yoo Myung-hee's bid for the top job at WTO.Our Hong Yoo reports.President Moon Jae-in has been busy holding phone calls with many world leaders of late.Within the past three days alone, Moon has spoken with six leaders...mainly to ask for their support in voting for South Korea's Trade Minister Yoo Myung-hee as the next head of the World Trade Organization.He started the week by talking with the Prime Minister of Malaysia, then with the leaders of Luxembourg, Italy, and Egypt on Tuesday, and with four others through Thursday.It is quite unusual for the President to have more than two diplomacy phone calls with world leaders in one day.But Moon is doing all he can to back Yoo...who faces stiff competition from Nigerian candidate Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala...a well-known figure in the international community who worked for the World Bank for 25 years.Okonjo-Iweala has the full support of African countries and major European states.But with the final round scheduled to end next Tuesday, President Moon has also asked Prime Minister Chung Sye-kyun and his predecessor Lee Nak-yeon to appeal to their counterparts around the world to back Yoo's bid.Blue House spokesperson Kang Min-seok said Wednesday that President Moon has continuously highlighted Yoo's expertise, devotion to multilateralism as well as her political influence.This year, South Korea has become a global role model due to its effective containment of COVID-19.Now, it hopes to check its status in the international community through the WTO Director-General election.But even if Minister Yoo's bid is unsuccessful, making it to the final round is still something to be commended.Hong Yoo, Arirang News.