This past weekend, the Senate confirmed the appointment of American ambassadors to more than 40 countries. South Korea was not on that list — and that’s a point of rising annoyance in Seoul.
It’s been nearly a year since the United States has had an ambassador to South Korea.
This past week, foreign service veteran Nicholas Burns was confirmed as ambassador to China, while former Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel was confirmed as ambassador to Japan.
The confirmation of many ambassadors has been delayed by several Republican senators — but the Biden administration has not even nominated anyone to be ambassador to South Korea.
The last ambassador was retired Admiral Harry Harris — who moved to Seoul after retiring from his position in Honolulu as Commander of U.S. Indo-Pacific Command in 2018.
He left his role as ambassador when President Biden took office in January.
This has all become a point of some speculation and a bit of indignity in some parts of the South Korean media — especially now that China and Japan both have confirmed ambassadors.
Potential candidates mentioned for the Seoul position by local media include the current U.S. ambassador to Albania — Yuri Kim.
She was born in South Korea, grew up on Guam, and is the first Korean-American woman to serve as a U.S. ambassador.
Other potential candidates cited by the Joong Ang Daily include former Commander of U.S. Forces Korea Vincent Brooks and U.S. Ambassador to Myanmar Derek Mitchell.
