Prime Minister Chung Hong-won on Tuesday asked an outgoing U.S. envoy to continue his efforts to strengthen bilateral ties between the two countries.

Chung thanked U.S. Ambassador to South Korea Sung Kim for his three-year service aimed at bolstering diplomatic relations between Korea and the U.S.

“He has contributed in a great way to seamless cooperation between South Korea and the U.S.,” said Chung at a farewell meeting held at the Central Government Complex in Seoul.

Kim said the Korea-U.S. relationship had made great progress during his stint in Seoul, including the signing of a free trade agreement, cooperation over security and North Korean issues. The U.S. envoy also thanked the South Korean government and the people for their help and support, vowing to continue working toward the betterment of the South Korea-U.S. alliance.

Kim, 54, was born in South Korea and moved to the U.S. in the 1970s, acquiring citizenship there. A career diplomat and expert on the North Korean nuclear issue, he became the first Korean-American ambassador to Seoul in November 2011.

Upon returning to the U.S., Kim is likely to take a post related to North Korea policy alongside Daniel Russel. Russel is expected to replace Glyn Davis, chief U.S. envoy to the six-party talks, who will be stationed as ambassador to an Asian country later this year.

Washington has named Mark Lippert, U.S. Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel’s chief of staff, as Kim’s successor.

By Yoon Min-sik
(minsikyoon@heraldcorp.com)