South Korea's former envoy to Singapore, who is speculated to have been sacked for his role in a controversial comfort women deal with Japan, told friends that he was leaving the city state because he had completed his tenure.
"It is with much regret to inform you that I will depart Singapore for Korea on Monday, 29 January, 2018 upon completion of my tenure as Ambassador of the Republic of Korea to Singapore," Mr Lee Sang Deok wrote in a farewell note sent last week. A copy was obtained by The Straits Times.
"This imminent departure brings to me mixed feelings as I will be leaving this country which I have grown to love very much," he added.
A typical posting for an ambassador is three years, so Mr Lee, 57, would be expected to serve till 2019.
Contrary to media speculation that Mr Lee was sacked, a source told The Straits Times that diplomats cannot be fired unless they have serious run-ins with the law, such as criminal offences. But they can be recalled by the presidential Blue House, which has the final say in the appointment of envoys.
The source said Mr Lee may end up becoming an ambassador-at-large or choose to retire early. The retirement age for civil servants is 60.
Mr Lee did not respond to calls and e-mails.
His sudden departure has fuelled talk that he was sacked over his key role in a controversial comfort women deal between South Korea and Japan. Then President Park Geun Hye and Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe inked a "final and irreversible" agreement to settle the issue of Korean women forced into sexual slavery by the Japanese military during World War II.
Mr Lee, who was then director-general for North-east Asian affairs at the Foreign Ministry, was the chief negotiator with the Japanese.
The deal, which included an apology from Mr Abe and a one billion yen (S$12 million) fund to help the victims, was recently reviewed by the administration of newly elected President Moon Jae In.
Even as he acknowledged that the deal is not renegotiable, Mr Moon has labelled it "seriously flawed" for disregarding the views of the victims.
A source who knew Mr Lee said it was "obvious" that he had become the fall guy for the deal.
Diplomatic sources were surprised by Mr Lee's departure, noting that it is "unusual" for an envoy to leave so abruptly without a successor named.
Some Foreign Ministry officials told local media a new ambassador will be dispatched after the next regular reshuffle in March or April.
Word has it that as many as eight out of the 10 ambassadors assigned to the Asean member states will be changed.
Analysts said it is important to send a new envoy to Singapore as soon as possible. The city state has assumed Asean chairmanship this year and will host major meetings involving South Korea. Mr Moon is also expected to visit Singapore this year.
Dr Lee Jae Hyon, a South-east Asian expert at the Asan Institute for Policy Studies, said: "The new ambassador should bear in mind that Korea and Singapore can work together in development projects in other Asean countries and be partners in discussing regional strategic matters including US-China rivalry in the region.
"We can also be good partners in new economic frontiers like the fourth industrial revolution."
