Former Ambassador to Hungary Suh Chung-ha has been named international affairs adviser for Seoul City government, city officials said Tuesday.

For two years Suh will facilitate exchanges between the capital and foreign cities while advising the city on hosting or attending international events.

“We expect his appointment as international affairs advisor to expand the diplomatic network of Seoul and propel the city into the ranks of the top five cities globally,” an official said. 

Suh held important posts during his 30-year career at the Foreign Ministry, including ambassador to Hungary, minister of the Korean Embassy in Austria and Permanent Mission to the International Organizations in Vienna, as well as chairman of Wassenaar Arrangement, a global multilateral export control regime.

His achievements as ambassador to Hungary include a celebration of the 20th anniversary of diplomatic ties between the two countries in 2009 and successful efforts to spread hallyu, the Korean Wave, throughout Eastern Europe and getting Korean dramas aired on Hungarian TV channels.

In the field of international trade, he initiated a joint research center in Hungary and played an important role in the Korea-EU free trade agreement.

By Lee Woo-young  (wylee@heraldcorp.com)