logo
Cho Hyun: Veteran diplomat with broad global, trade experience

Cho Hyun: Veteran diplomat with broad global, trade experience

Korea Herald23-06-2025
Cho Hyun, a veteran diplomat with extensive experience in both bilateral and multilateral diplomacy — including key postings at the United Nations — and deep expertise in trade issues, has been tapped as the Lee administration's first foreign minister.
Cho previously held the roles of first and second vice foreign minister, and served as South Korea's ambassador to the UN — all under the liberal Moon Jae-in administration, overlapping with the first Trump presidency.
'He is expected to take an active role in addressing key pending matters such as tariff negotiations and Middle East affairs,' Presidential Chief of Staff Kang Hoon-sik said during a briefing Monday.
Cho's diplomatic career includes serving as ambassador to India from 2015 to 2017, and as ambassador to Austria and permanent representative to international organizations in Vienna from 2011 to 2014. He also held the post of deputy permanent representative to the UN in New York from 2006 to 2008.
Within the Foreign Ministry, Cho has held numerous high-level positions, including deputy minister for multilateral and global affairs, ambassador for energy and resources, and director-general of the Ministry's International Economic Affairs Bureau.
Cho was involved in negotiations for a Korea-Japan free trade agreement and served as chief negotiator for the Korea-Mexico FTA.
Cho received a Ph.D. in international politics from the University of Toulouse in France in 2008, and holds M.A. degrees from the School of Political Science in Paris and from Columbia University. Cho earned his bachelor's degree in political science and diplomacy from Yonsei University in Seoul.
Orange background

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Comments

No comments yet...

Related Articles

S. Korea, China FMs agree to make upcoming APEC summit 'new turning point' in ties
S. Korea, China FMs agree to make upcoming APEC summit 'new turning point' in ties

Korea Herald

time29 minutes ago

  • Korea Herald

S. Korea, China FMs agree to make upcoming APEC summit 'new turning point' in ties

The top diplomats of South Korea and China agreed Monday to work together to make the upcoming Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation summit a "new turning point" in bilateral relations, as they held their first telephone call, the South Korean Foreign Ministry said. Foreign Minister Cho Hyun and Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi expressed this view during the 45-minute phone conversation, reaffirming their commitment to advance the bilateral strategic cooperative partnership in a "steady and mature" manner, the ministry said in a release. "They agreed to work together to ensure that the upcoming APEC summit in Gyeongju serves as a new turning point in bilateral ties and to deliver tangible outcomes in practical cooperation that can be felt by the peoples of both countries," it said. They also agreed to maintain the positive momentum in bilateral ties through high-level exchanges. The APEC summit is set to take place in the southeastern South Korean city from Oct. 31 to Nov. 1. Chinese President Xi Jinping is widely expected to attend the multilateral meeting. China is the host for next year's APEC summit. Congratulating Cho on his inauguration, Wang expressed a willingness to maintain a close working relationship with him, according to the ministry. Cho, in turn, said he hopes to closely work with Wang to further develop the Seoul-Beijing ties. Cho took office last Monday. He also extended an invitation for Wang to visit South Korea, and Wang responded that he would visit at a mutually convenient time, according to the ministry. (Yonhap)

FM Cho reaffirms S. Korea's commitment to closer ties in call with Indian counterpart
FM Cho reaffirms S. Korea's commitment to closer ties in call with Indian counterpart

Korea Herald

time29 minutes ago

  • Korea Herald

FM Cho reaffirms S. Korea's commitment to closer ties in call with Indian counterpart

Foreign Minister Cho Hyun reaffirmed South Korea's commitment to developing bilateral relations with India through high-level exchanges and closer cooperation, as he spoke by phone with his Indian counterpart on Monday, the foreign ministry said. In his first phone talks with India's External Affairs Minister Subrahmanyam Jaishankar, Cho called for continuing to work together to strengthen cooperation between the two countries in a "mutually beneficial" way, the ministry said in a release. "Minister Cho reaffirmed the South Korean government's strong commitment to strengthening bilateral ties with India. ... He also emphasized the importance of seeking more high-level exchanges between the two countries and continuing efforts to expand mutually beneficial practical cooperation," it said. Jaishankar, in turn, noted their personal rapport from Cho's previous service as the South Korean ambassador to India and expressed hope to elevate the two countries' partnership and expand strategic economic cooperation. Cho served as Seoul's top envoy to New Delhi from 2015-17. The two ministers also agreed on the need to "broaden the scope" of the bilateral strategic cooperation and maintain close diplomatic communication going forward, the ministry said. (Yonhap)

FM to go on trip to Japan, US this week
FM to go on trip to Japan, US this week

Korea Herald

timean hour ago

  • Korea Herald

FM to go on trip to Japan, US this week

Foreign Minister Cho Hyun will visit Japan and the United States this week to meet his counterparts, according to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs on Monday. Cho, who took office on July 21, will meet his Japanese counterpart, Takeshi Iwaya, on Tuesday. Cho is scheduled to attend a working dinner hosted by Iwaya. It will be the first in-person meeting of the two since Cho started his term. The two held their first phone talks on Thursday and agreed that bilateral cooperation is key to addressing geopolitical challenges at both the global and regional levels. South Korea's top diplomat is scheduled to depart Tokyo for Washington on Wednesday to hold talks with Marco Rubio, who doubles as the US secretary of state and the national security adviser for the White House. Cho's meeting with Rubio is speculated to take place Thursday, but the Foreign Ministry did not disclose the exact date.

DOWNLOAD THE APP

Get Started Now: Download the App

Ready to dive into a world of global content with local flavor? Download Daily8 app today from your preferred app store and start exploring.
app-storeplay-store