Kevin Kim has been appointed as Chargé d’Affaires ad interim at the United States Mission to the Republic of Korea. In his new role, Kim is responsible for representing U.S. interests in South Korea and overseeing diplomatic activities between the two countries.
Kim’s career includes significant experience in both diplomatic and legislative roles. Before this appointment, he was the Senior Bureau Official in the Bureau of East Asian and Pacific Affairs at the U.S. Department of State. He also served as Deputy Assistant Secretary for Japan, Korea, and Mongolia.
Prior to joining the State Department, Kim worked on Capitol Hill as a Professional Staff Member for the Senate Armed Services Committee and was a National Security Fellow in Senator Bill Hagerty’s office. He also acted as Senior Advisor to the Special Presidential Envoy for Arms Control.
From 2018 to 2020, Kim held the position of Chief of Staff to Special Representative for North Korea and Deputy Secretary of State Stephen Biegun. During that time, he participated in several rounds of negotiations with North Korea regarding nuclear issues. He supported U.S. efforts toward denuclearization on the Korean Peninsula, including during high-profile meetings such as the 2018 Singapore Summit, the 2019 Hanoi Summit, and President Trump’s meeting with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un at the DMZ in 2019.
Kim holds a Bachelor of Arts from Johns Hopkins University and a Master’s degree from its School of Advanced International Studies. He is currently pursuing a doctorate in International Relations at Johns Hopkins SAIS.