Lee Do-hoon, former South Korean ambassador to Russia, speaks during the Special Thursday Lecture organized by Kookmin University on its campus in northern Seoul, May 28. Courtesy of Kookmin University

Lee Do-hoon, former South Korean ambassador to Russia, emphasized the importance of balance in diplomacy in a lecture held last week at Kookmin University.

“The essence of diplomacy lies in reconciling differing interests and finding practical common ground,” he said during the 668th Special Thursday Lecture organized by the university on its campus in northern Seoul on May 28.

The school said that in his lecture on Korea-Russia relations, Lee discussed how to view the bilateral ties amid rapidly changing global dynamics, while highlighting firsthand observation and analysis as essential tools for understanding international affairs.

“International affairs cannot be viewed through a simple lens of good and evil. Therefore, we should consider the historical backgrounds and interests of individual countries,” a university official quoted Lee as saying.