KEY interview with H.E. Ugo Astuto, Ambassador of the European Union to the Republic of Korea
- 15 hours ago
- 1 min read
Updated: 2 hours ago
Conducted by Clément Charles(Editor-in-Chief of KEY)
What does “democratic efficiency” mean from the EU perspective? For H.E. Ugo Astuto, Ambassador of the European Union to the Republic of Korea, the answer is clear: democracies must deliver tangible results in a timely manner, while safeguarding citizens, legal certainty, and competitiveness. As a complement to our last KEY Paper 02, “Democracies Need a New Kind of Efficiency,” our special KEY Interview is now available.
About the Authors
Clément Charles
Clément Charles is a French analyst and advisor specialising in Korea and Northeast Asia, with over 20 years of on-the-ground experience in Seoul. Formerly Head of Press and Communication at the Embassy of France in the Republic of Korea (2021–2025), he brings a practitioner's understanding of Korea's political dynamics, institutional culture, and strategic positioning, translating complex signals into clear, actionable intelligence.
Speaking French, English and Korean, Clément draws on a cross-sector background spanning diplomacy, journalism (KBS World Radio) and business (French-Korean Chamber of Commerce and Industry) to offer a uniquely grounded perspective on the Korean market. He advises organisations on market entry, political risk and communication strategy, combining traditional analytical rigour with OSINT techniques and AI-assisted research workflows.