An Analysis of the Social Backgrounds of Members of the Korean Foreign Service

Abstract

A major aim of diplomacy is to further a national interests in world society where the conflicting interests of nations are an ever present reality. A nation strives to preserve its territory to seek security and prosperity, and for what it obtains independence and equality through diplomacy, diplomats, major tools of this diplomacy, it should be equipped with much experiences and knowledges, and in particular, trained in techniques to deal with matters vital to the national interests. Today, because of the pluralistic divisions of world society, the diplomat's training for this mission should be strengthened, effective training of diplomats is badly needed. The purpose of this research is to analyse the social backgrounds of members of the Korean diplomatic service and to advise what measures should be taken so that they can better execute their missions as diplomats. The research is significant in the furtherance of the national interests largely dependent on the nation's diplomatic service. The social backgrounds of diplomats examined here, include their ages, native places, academic backgrounds, religions, former occupations, and appointment method. The research methods employed here are: 1) personal history statement and questionaire and 2) personnel file documents. The analysis is made by the social backgrounds of 117 members of the foreign service, subsection chief-level and higher. And this was compared with those of non-diplomatic, general civil servants, and those of the whole membership of the Korean foreign service as of September, 1965, and finally those of 47 senior diplomats, bureau chief-level and higher (as of September 1, 1967).