Vacancy Created by Departure of Former Ambassador Philip Goldberg
Arriving in South Korea on the 11th to Serve as Charg? d'Affaires
Appointment of Charg? d'Affaires Considered an Unusual Decision
Joseph Yun, former U.S. Special Representative for North Korea Policy at the State Department, has been appointed as charg? d'affaires to fill the vacancy created by the departure of Philip Goldberg, former U.S. Ambassador to South Korea, and is scheduled to arrive in South Korea on the 11th.
According to diplomatic sources on the 10th, Yun completed internal procedures at the U.S. State Department and is expected to arrive in South Korea the following afternoon. Ambassador Goldberg retired on the 7th after serving as the U.S. Ambassador to South Korea for two and a half years.
In situations where the ambassador position is vacant, it is customary for the deputy chief of mission to temporarily serve as charg? d'affaires. However, this time, the appointment of former Representative Yun as charg? d'affaires is considered unusual. This decision appears to take into account delays in the formal ambassador appointment due to agrement (prior consent for diplomatic envoys) and Senate confirmation procedures.
As interim charg? d'affaires, Yun will serve as the head of the U.S. Embassy in South Korea until a formal ambassador is appointed. It is reported that the Biden administration consulted with the Trump transition team in advance regarding Yun’s dispatch. After the appointment of the charg? d'affaires, the embassy must officially notify the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and Yun is expected to lead the main operations of the U.S. Embassy in South Korea until a formal ambassador is appointed.
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