South Korean opposition party: ”President Lee is a 'practical diplomat in name only'”... ”Not attending NATO meeting was a wrong decision”

On the 23rd, lawmakers from the main opposition People Power Party, who are members of the South Korean National Assembly's Foreign Affairs and Unification Committee, announced that President Lee Jae-myung
Regarding the decision not to participate in the NATO summit, "It is an opportunity to respond to risks originating from the Middle East"
"The decision to not participate in the NATIO summit, which is a forum for the discussion of the future of the country, is a mistake," they said.
"We express deep concern that North Korea is engaging in 'practical diplomacy in name only' and is failing to fulfill its responsibilities for our national interests."
They said, "This situation is coming at a time when the country is already facing difficulties due to sluggish exports and stagnant domestic demand.
"There is concern that disruptions to the supply of crude oil from the Middle East could lead to a sudden rise in international crude oil prices, which could lead to higher prices and a deterioration in corporate profitability," he said.
"In particular, the Strait of Hormuz is a crucial maritime route through which much of the Middle Eastern crude oil that our country imports passes," he said. "The worst-case scenario of the Strait of Hormuz actually collapsing is a serious concern.
"If that were to happen, the shock felt by the public could be even more severe," they explained. "The NATO summit is intended to resolve security and economic uncertainty caused by the situation in the Middle East and to foster international cooperation.
"It was an important diplomatic opportunity to explore a powerful solution," he said, adding, "President Lee's decision not to attend the NATO summit was a huge mistake."
He continued, "The President's Office cited 'domestic concerns' and 'uncertainty over the Middle East situation' as reasons for the withdrawal, but I don't think that's the case.
"What are the domestic issues that need urgent attention?" he asked. "The more anxious the situation in the Middle East becomes, the more reason to avoid cooperation with allies? Is throwing away an opportunity a practical diplomacy that focuses on national interests?"
"I am worried that by not participating this time, the Middle East and Russia will perceive South Korea as the weakest of the US's allies, and we will become a target of coercive diplomacy from China and Russia," he said.
"NATO and the IP4 (Indo-Pacific Quad) have warned that the new South Korean government may prioritize relations with China, Russia and North Korea over its allies and partners," he said.
"If only South Korea is absent from the NATO summit, which is a meeting place for the liberal democratic nations, how will the international community view South Korea?"
"The presidential office must squarely face up to the diplomatic and security impacts of not participating in the NATO summit and immediately provide an explanation to the public," he said.