According to the Korea Herald, "Hong is also reportedly close to the members of the Bush administration, such as Secretary of State-designate Condoleezza Rice...

Some say he has presidential ambitions while others suggest he could be seen as a candidate to succeed U.N. Secretary-general Kofi Annan when his term ends in 2006. JoongAng Ilbo says it will continue to maintain its "objective view" in their reports but many still worry about the newspaper's objectivity while its chairman is a key member of the government's diplomatic team. Hong's staunch opposition of the Roh government's push to restrict market dominance of major newspapers is also likely to create confusion...

Hong's tight relationship with the nation's largest conglomerate was expected as his late father, former Justice Minister Hong Jin-go (or Hong Jin-ki), was close friends with the late founder of Samsung, Lee Byung-chil. Hong's older sister Hong Ra-hee is married to Samsung Group Chairman Lee Kun-hee.

Hong made his way into the newspaper industry by becoming the publisher and president of JoongAng Ilbo in 1994 (the newspaper was launched by his father in 1965). He became chairman in 1999."

According to the Joongang Ilbo, "Mr. Hong said yesterday that accepting the key diplomatic post was not an easy decision. "I seriously considered that the U.S.-South Korea alliance is an important condition for Korea's survival and prosperity," Mr. Hong's aide quoted him as saying. "The president's request for help in resolving North Korea's nuclear problem peacefully was too earnest to turn down."... In taking up the post, it appears almost certain that Mr. Hong will step down from the presidency of the World Association of Newspapers, which he has led since 2002."

Surprisingly, the Chosun Ilbo - one of the three main newspapers in South Korea and an ally of JoongAng Ilbo in its struggle against the URI media law - published an article of a rare violence against this nomination: "JoongAng Ilbo Chairman Hong Seok-hyun's sudden appointment as Korea's ambassador to the United States and his affiliation with the powerful Samsung Group as brother-in-law of Samsung CEO Lee Kun-hee has fed rumors of collusion between the chaebol and political world.

There are two main pillars on which the rumors rest. First is that Samsung involved itself in nominating candiates for the post, and secondly, that the firm would support Hong's ambassadorial activities by making use of Samsung's powerful overseas network. Hong formerly worked as vice president for one of the conglomerate's business arms.

Local press reported Friday that Samsung had submitted a report saying it needed to consider how to actively use its personal and physical network in the United States to support bilateral diplomatic efforts.

It strongly refuted the media reports, however, claiming they were nothing more than conjecture. One official said he understood how Hong's appointment looked auspicious regarding the company's interests, but stressed that the two issues were not related, and that political decisions and proposals were not within the company's jurisdiction."

Sources: Korea Herald, Joongang Ilbo and Chosun Ilbo