By Kim Sue-young
Staff Reporter
Yu Myung-hwan, 63, has served as minister of foreign affairs and trade since the inauguration of President Lee Myung-bak in February last year.
A graduate of Seoul National University, Yu began his diplomatic career in 1973 and served as the third secretary at the Korean embassy in Japan. In 1979, he worked as a presidential secretary for foreign affairs and security. He was appointed as director of the North America Division of the foreign ministry in 1986. From 1992 to 1994, he worked as spokesman of the ministry.
He was then dispatched to New York as minister for the Korean Permanent Mission to the United Nations.
In 2001, he was named as ambassador for anti-terrorism and Afghan issues. He also served as ambassador to Israel and the Philippines, and vice foreign minister. In 2007, he was named ambassador to Japan.
Yu received the Order of Service Merit Red Stripes in 1996 and the Grand Cross of the Order of Sikatuna from the Philippine government in 2005.
He is married with one son and one daughter.