New Korean envoy to India LEE Seong-ho arrives in New Delhi
Previously he held a number of foreign diplomatic positions in the U.S., Italy, Senegal, Belgium and the European Union, and led several divisions on trade cooperation and trade dispute settlement.
NEW DELHI: The newly appointed Ambassador of the Republic of Korea to India Lee Seong-ho has arrived in India. Formerly deputed in Rome as the Ambassador of the Republic of Korea to Italy for about two and a half years, the new Korean envoy Lee reached New Delhi on Saturday, November 2.
Lee Seong-ho succeeds Ambassador Chang Jae-bok who left for Korea on October 30, a day before India’s grand festival of lights Diwali. Ambassador Chang completed three years in India on 20th July.
Lee Seong-ho is an accomplished diplomat with extensive expertise in international economic and trade affairs, climate policy, and multilateral diplomacy.
Lee’s career reflects a unique blend of economic diplomacy, environmental advocacy, and strategic policy implementation, making him a specialist in advancing Korea’s foreign economic and multilateral interests.
Prior to the current responsibility of an Ambassador to India, and to Italy, Lee Seong-ho was appointed Deputy Minister for Economic Affairs at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA) of the Republic of Korea (ROK) in May 2020.
Since beginning his career at the MOFA of the Republic of Korea in 1989, Lee has held pivotal diplomatic positions across various global locations, including the U.S., Senegal, Belgium, and the European Union.
He has showcased his strong leadership in multiple capacities, notably as Deputy Minister for Economic Affairs at MOFA, where he contributed to economic strategies from May 2020. His prior experience includes serving as Deputy Representative for ROK-US Defense Burden-sharing, illustrating his proficiency in bilateral and defense-related negotiations.
Lee also excelled as Director-General for International Economic Affairs, focusing on global trade cooperation and dispute resolution, and later led initiatives as Director-General for Climate Change, Energy, and Environmental Affairs. He served as the Director-General for International Economic Affairs from August 2014 to September 2015; as Director-General for Climate Change, Energy and Environmental Affairs from October 2015 to February 2016.
His ambassadorship and role as Deputy Permanent Representative to the OECD in Paris from March 2016 to August 2019 highlighted his commitment to fostering international partnerships and sustainable development.