Kang Chang-il Appointed as Ambassador to Japan... New Ambassador to South Korea Also Scheduled to Assume Post

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Lim Cheol-young] The Ministry of Foreign Affairs announced on the 8th that Kang Chang-il, Honorary Chairman of the Korea-Japan Parliamentary League, has been appointed as the Ambassador to Japan.

Ambassador Kang earned his master's and doctoral degrees in Oriental History from the University of Tokyo and is regarded as a leading Japan expert who led parliamentary diplomacy between the two countries as the chairman of the Korea-Japan Parliamentary League during Japan's unilateral export control measures in 2019. He served as a four-term lawmaker from the 17th to the 20th National Assembly.

Ambassador Kang was appointed in November last year and received agrement (the host country's consent to dispatch a diplomatic envoy) at the end of last year. Attention is focused on how he will navigate the strained Korea-Japan relations due to historical issues.

Additionally, Koichi Aiboshi, appointed as the Ambassador of Japan to Korea and currently serving as the Ambassador of Japan to Israel, is expected to assume his post soon. Accordingly, the replacement of ambassadors between the two countries is expected to be completed around the launch of the Joe Biden administration in the United States.

Hong Seok-in, the Minister-Counselor to the United States, has been appointed as the Consul General in Honolulu.

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