Seoul: South Korea has appointed Kang Kyung-wha, the nation's first female foreign minister who served from 2017 to 2021, as the new ambassador to the United States. This strategic appointment comes just before President Lee Jae Myung's inaugural summit with US President Donald Trump.

According to Anadolu Agency, veteran diplomat Lee Hyuk has also been named as the new ambassador to Japan, as reported by the Korea Times. The South Korean government has formally requested approval from both Washington and Tokyo for these diplomatic appointments, as confirmed by Lee's office.

These appointments, if confirmed, will fill a two-month vacancy for the ambassadorial roles in both countries. President Lee is set to visit Tokyo on August 23 to meet with Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba before proceeding to the US for discussions with President Trump.

Kang Kyung-wha, aged 70, has a distinguished career, having served as foreign minister during the Moon Jae-in administration. Her experience also includes significant roles under UN Secretaries-General Kofi Annan, Ban Ki-moon, and Antonio Guterres. A PhD graduate from the University of Massachusetts, she is currently the president and CEO of the Asia Society think tank based in New York.

Lee Hyuk, aged 67, brings a wealth of diplomatic experience, having previously served as South Korea's ambassador to Vietnam and the Philippines.