President Yoon Suk Yeol highlighted Monday that the government's push to expand South Korea's diplomacy as a responsible "global pivotal state" has become a key part of his foreign policy. Yoon made the remark during an annual meeting of the chiefs of the country's diplomatic missions, calling on the diplomats stationed overseas to continue their efforts in the foreign service, with a focus on diplomacy related to the economy and livelihoods. "The global pivotal state diplomacy that we have put into practice since the launch of this government has become the government's signature policy," Yoon said during a banquet dinner he hosted for the mission chiefs. The conference of the overseas diplomatic mission chiefs began earlier in the day for a five-day run. More than 180 ambassadors, consuls general and other heads of diplomatic missions in foreign countries are participating in the gathering. The "global pivotal state" vision calls for South Korea to act as a responsible country that fulfills its interna tional role and responsibility to help promote freedom, human rights and the rule of law. Yoon also stressed the importance of the role of the diplomatic mission chiefs at a time when South Korea is facing multiple complex challenges. "The role of the diplomatic mission chiefs is vital to South Korea in taking a new leap forward amid an unprecedented global polycrisis," Yoon said. Yoon also asked the diplomats to strive to do their parts in protecting and providing support to North Korean defectors in other countries, casting the issue as the government's focus in its North Korea policy. Some 220 participants attended Monday's event, including ministers and some ruling party lawmakers. The ambassador post for Australia remains vacant, as the former envoy, Lee Jong-sup, resigned from the position less than a month after he was appointed, over allegations related to his time as the defense minister. Source: Yonhap News Agency