Kang Kyung-wha seen as likely choice as South Korea’s next envoy to Washington

Former South Korean foreign minister Kang Kyung-wha could soon be named South Korea’s ambassador to Washington, reflecting Seoul’s urgent need for seasoned diplomacy in light of an increasingly unpredictable US foreign policy, sources familiar with the matter said.

If confirmed, Kang, now the president of Asia Society, a New York-based think tank focused on promoting US-Asian cooperation, would be the first woman to hold the post, which has been vacant since July.

An experienced diplomat with strong standing in Washington, Kang is best known for her pragmatic approach to foreign policy – particularly in navigating the delicate balance between the US and China during her term as the first woman foreign minister from 2017 to 2021.

With US President Donald Trump back in the White House, South Korea faces renewed pressures on tariffs and military burden-sharing under his “America first” policies that strained bilateral ties during his previous term.

The effort to fill the diplomatic void comes as South Korean President Lee Jae Myung is to arrive in Washington for a meeting with Trump at the White House on Monday. This will be the two leaders’ first face-to-face meeting.

According to Satu Limaye, vice-president of the East-West Center, a Washington think tank, Kang brings a “remarkable set of experiences and accomplishments” as the relationship between the US and South Korea “is again at a critical juncture”.