President Lee Jae-myung has sent a message of condolence regarding the passing of Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani, the former Emir of Qatar, who passed away over the weekend, and has decided to dispatch Chief of Staff Kang Hoon-sik as a special envoy to pay respects.

A Blue House official stated that Chief of Staff Kang will depart for Qatar this afternoon, July 14, to convey President Lee’s condolences as a special envoy and is scheduled to return on the 16th.

The official added that the dispatch of Chief of Staff Kang as a special envoy was arranged at the request of the Qatari side.

There have been precedents where cabinet members were dispatched as special envoys upon the passing of monarchs in Middle Eastern Gulf states.

However, it was reported that the Qatari side specifically requested Chief of Staff Kang’s visit during the consultation process.

Previously, when oil supply disruptions occurred due to the blockade of the Strait of Hormuz during the early stages of the war between the U.S., Israel, and Iran, Chief of Staff Kang visited several Middle Eastern countries, including Qatar, to discuss the supply of crude oil, liquefied natural gas (LNG), and naphtha.

In April, Chief of Staff Kang paid a courtesy call to the current Emir of Qatar, Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, who is the son of the late former Emir Sheikh Hamad.

Former Emir Sheikh Hamad is regarded as the architect of modern Qatar, having elevated the nation into a leading power in the Middle East.

Having ruled Qatar for 18 years starting in 1995, he transferred power in 2013 to his son, Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, the current leader of Qatar.

(Photo: Yonhap News)