Kim Hae-yong appointed 5th secretary general of ASEAN-Korea Centre

By Kwon Mee-yoo

Kim Hae-yong, secretary general of ASEAN-Korea Centre

Kim Hae-yong, former Korean ambassador to New Zealand, was appointed as the fifth secretary general of the ASEAN-Korea Centre on April 16.

The new secretary general said he "is both honored and humbled to represent the ASEAN-Korea Centre at this critical time, as the two regions are joining efforts to overcome the COVID-19 crisis and together preparing for a powerful post-pandemic transition and cooperation.”

"The ASEAN-Korea Centre will spare no effort in strengthening the ASEAN-Korea partnership for a more sustainable, thriving and mutually beneficial future together," Kim said upon taking office.

Kim studied linguistics at the undergraduate level, and public administration in graduate school at Seoul National University. He earned a second master's degree in East Asian studies from Indiana University.

Kim joined the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in 1983, where he has worked in various posts, including serving as Korean ambassador to New Zealand and Myanmar, as well as director-general for FTA negotiations, and minister-counselor at South Korea's Permanent Mission to the United Nations in Geneva.

Starting in 2018, he taught international trade at Dong-A University as a contract professor.

The ASEAN-Korea Centre was established in 2009 to increase trade, accelerate investment, invigorate tourism and enrich cultural and people-to-people exchange between ASEAN and Korea. The member states include Korea and the 10 ASEAN countries: Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam.