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Kang Kyung-wha, former foreign minister, has been nominated as South Korea’s next ambassador to the United States. / Source: Yonhap News

President Lee Jae-myung has reportedly nominated former Foreign Minister Kang Kyung-wha as South Korea’s next ambassador to the United States and former Ambassador to Vietnam Lee Hyuk as envoy to Japan, diplomatic sources said on August 18.

The presidential office is currently seeking agrément—the host country’s approval for the appointment—from Washington and Tokyo. The move comes ahead of Lee’s planned summit with Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba on August 23 and his meeting with U.S. President Donald Trump on August 25.

Foreign Minister Cho Hyun told lawmakers during a parliamentary session that day that “procedures for agrément are underway in some major posts,” referring to ambassadorial appointments in key nations including the U.S., Japan, China, and Russia.

“The government has nominated ambassadors to the U.S. and Japan in advance of the president’s visit, and will make an official announcement once the procedures are completed,” the presidential office said in a statement. “In line with diplomatic custom, confirmation can only be given after the necessary steps are finalized by the host countries.”

Kang, a non-career diplomat, served as the first foreign minister under the Moon Jae-in administration. Before that, she was a special policy adviser to the UN secretary-general and minister at South Korea’s mission to the UN. She currently heads the Asia Society Policy Institute (ASPI).

Lee, a career diplomat who passed the 13th Foreign Service Examination, has served as minister at the Korean Embassy in Japan, director-general for Asian and Pacific affairs, ambassador to Vietnam, and secretary-general of the ASEAN-Korea Centre. He entered the service alongside Wi Sung-lac, now head of the National Security Office.

Meanwhile, Noh Kyu-duk, former chief negotiator for the Korean Peninsula peace process, is reportedly a strong candidate for ambassador to the United Nations.