The Korea Times close
National
  • Politics
  • Foreign Affairs
  • Multicultural Community
  • Defense
  • Environment & Animals
  • Law & Crime
  • Society
  • Health & Science
Business
  • Tech
  • Bio
  • Companies
Finance
  • Companies
  • Economy
  • Markets
  • Cryptocurrency
Opinion
  • Editorial
  • Columns
  • Thoughts of the Times
  • Cartoon
  • Today in History
  • Blogs
  • Tribune Service
  • Blondie & Garfield
  • Letter to President
  • Letter to the Editor
Lifestyle
  • Travel & Food
  • Trends
  • People & Events
  • Books
  • Around Town
  • Fortune Telling
Entertainment
& Arts
  • K-pop
  • Films
  • Shows & Dramas
  • Music
  • Theater & Others
Sports
World
  • SCMP
  • Asia
Video
  • Culture
  • People
  • News
Photos
  • Photo News
  • Darkroom
  • The Korea Times
  • search
  • Site Map
  • E-paper
  • Subscribe
  • Register
  • LogIn
search close
  • The Korea Times
  • search
  • Site Map
  • E-paper
  • Subscribe
  • Register
  • LogIn
search close
National
  • Politics
  • Foreign Affairs
  • Multicultural Community
  • Defense
  • Environment & Animals
  • Law & Crime
  • Society
  • Health & Science
Thu, August 11, 2022 | 06:25
Sung Kim tapped as US ambassador to Seoul
Posted : 2011-06-05 17:15
Updated : 2011-06-05 17:15
Print Preview
Font Size Up
Font Size Down

Sung Kim
By Kim Se-jeong

Sung Kim, the U.S. special envoy to the six-party talks, is expected to succeed Kathleen Stephens as the next U.S. ambassador to Korea, according to news reports.

Yonhap News Agency, quoting an anonymous source in Washington, said that the U.S. government tapped the 51-year-old Korean-American to replace Kathleen Stephens, incumbent ambassador to Korea. Stephens assumed her post in October 2008. Past U.S. ambassadors to Korea have usually served three to four years.

If confirmed, Kim will be the first U.S. ambassador to Korea with a Korean background.

As of Sunday, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade said it could not confirm his nomination, citing diplomatic protocol as the reason. A liaison public-relations officer at the U.S. Embassy in Korea also said the embassy was not informed of anything on Kim’s nomination from Washington.

One Korean diplomat told The Korea Times that an official announcement usually comes after the nominee is approved by the government in the recipient country.

A prosecutor-turned-diplomat, Kim has been working as a special envoy to the six-party talks aimed at dismantling North Korea’s nuclear program since July 2008. One month prior to that, he, then the head of the Korean office at the State Department, flew to Yongbyon in North Korea to see the demolition of a cooling tower at its main nuclear site. He has visited the North more than 10 times in official capacities.

The career diplomat served as chief of the political-military affairs at the U.S. Embassy in Seoul in 2003, and also worked as a political officer in Tokyo. Prior to that, he served in Kuala Lumpur in Malaysia and Hong Kong.

Diplomatic circles in Korea and Washington seem to welcome him as a new ambassador to Korea.

Born in 1960, Kim and his family emigrated to the United States in the 1970s, after his father left public service. Kim went on to the University of Pennsylvania and Loyola Law School and served as a prosecutor before becoming a diplomat.

In Korea, news of his appointment raised hopes for future communications between Seoul and Washington over the North’s nuclear issue.

"Kim hasn't taken part in actual six-party discussions, but he has played an important role in maintaining Seoul-Washington cooperation on North Korea," a South Korean government official was quoted as saying by Yonhap. "The two allies could become even closer to each other in the future.”

The multilateral talks, involving the two Koreas, the U.S., China, Japan and Russia, were last held in 2008.

The nominee will have to go through a confirmation hearing at the U.S. Senate.
Emailskim@koreatimes.co.kr Article ListMore articles by this reporter
 
LG
  • Korea urged to take preemptive steps to deal with climate change-induced disasters
  • What Seoul's worst rainfall in 115 years looked like
  • Musinsa's new store becomes hot spot in southern Seoul
  • Flood damage to vehicles during torrential rain to hit insurers
  • 'Children must play right now'
  • Bill Gates expected to meet with top business leaders in Korea
  • Seoul reiterates that '3 Nos' policy is not commitment to China
  • Han River sunset cruise: Seoul's new tourist focal point
  • [INTERVIEW] Polish arms deal may well lead to greater opportunities for Korea: expert
  • Samsung, LG seek to spur demand for premium appliances at IFA
  • Interactive News
  • With tough love,
  • 'Santa dogs' help rebuild burnt forests in Andong
  • 'Santa dogs' help rebuild burnt forests in Andong
  • A tale of natural wine
    • BLACKPINK to start world tour in October BLACKPINK to start world tour in October
    • [INTERVIEW] Im Si-wan finds own narrative for villain role in 'Emergency Declaration' [INTERVIEW] Im Si-wan finds own narrative for villain role in 'Emergency Declaration'
    • 'Free Chol Soo Lee': How young Korean immigrant's wrongful conviction led to pan Asian American resistance movement 'Free Chol Soo Lee': How young Korean immigrant's wrongful conviction led to pan Asian American resistance movement
    • 'Good Doctor' director to debut Netflix's high-strung suspense series, 'A Model Family' 'Good Doctor' director to debut Netflix's high-strung suspense series, 'A Model Family'
    • Musical 'Kinky Boots' tells people to love themselves as they are Musical 'Kinky Boots' tells people to love themselves as they are
    DARKROOM
    • Ice is melting, land is burning

      Ice is melting, land is burning

    • Tottenham 6-3 Team K League

      Tottenham 6-3 Team K League

    • Afghanistan earthquake killed more than 1,000

      Afghanistan earthquake killed more than 1,000

    • Divided America reacts to overturn of Roe vs. Wade

      Divided America reacts to overturn of Roe vs. Wade

    • Namaste: Yogis to celebrate International Yoga Day

      Namaste: Yogis to celebrate International Yoga Day

    The Korea Times
    CEO & Publisher : Oh Young-jin
    Digital News Email : webmaster@koreatimes.co.kr
    Tel : 02-724-2114
    Online newspaper registration No : 서울,아52844
    Date of registration : 2020.02.05
    Masthead : The Korea Times
    Copyright © koreatimes.co.kr. All rights reserved.
    • About Us
    • Introduction
    • History
    • Location
    • Media Kit
    • Contact Us
    • Products & Service
    • Subscribe
    • E-paper
    • Mobile Service
    • RSS Service
    • Content Sales
    • Policy
    • Privacy Statement
    • Terms of Service
    • 고충처리인
    • Youth Protection Policy
    • Code of Ethics
    • Copyright Policy
    • Family Site
    • Hankook Ilbo
    • Dongwha Group