Lee Jae-myung Government Nominates First Ambassadors to the U.S. and Japan
President Lee Jae-myung has made his first major diplomatic appointments since taking office, reportedly nominating former Foreign Minister Kang Kyung-wha as Ambassador to the United States and former Ambassador to Vietnam Lee Hyuk as Ambassador to Japan. The South Korean government has requested agrément—the formal approval from the host countries—for both nominees.
According to diplomatic sources, the selections are seen as strategic, drawing on each nominee’s extensive diplomatic experience and international recognition. Kang previously served as South Korea’s Foreign Minister under the Moon Jae-in administration from 2017 to 2021, during which she worked closely with then-U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo under the Trump administration. She currently serves as President of the Asia Society, a U.S.-based think tank. If confirmed, she would become South Korea’s first female Ambassador to the United States, following her distinction as the nation’s first female Foreign Minister.
Lee Hyuk, a 13th cohort graduate of the Foreign Service Examination and peer of current National Security Advisor Wi Sung-lac, has held key positions including Director-General for Asia-Pacific Affairs, Minister to Japan, and Ambassador to the Philippines and Vietnam. His experience spans key diplomatic posts in Northeast and Southeast Asia.
Once the agrément process is completed, both nominees will receive their letters of credence from President Lee and assume their posts in Washington and Tokyo, respectively. They will then officially present their credentials to the heads of state in the host countries to begin their duties as ambassadors.
A presidential office official declined to confirm the appointments, stating, “We are unable to comment on matters related to diplomacy.”
The appointments come ahead of significant bilateral meetings: President Lee is scheduled to hold a Korea-Japan summit with Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba on the 23rd, followed by a Korea-U.S. summit with U.S. President Donald Trump on the 25th. These ambassadorial nominations are expected to set the tone for Lee’s diplomatic direction with two of South Korea’s key allies.
