Update on U.S. - South Korea Relations

The Honorable Kathleen Stephens was confirmed as Ambassador to the Republic of Korea in August, 2008. A career Foreign Service officer, Ambassador Stephens has held numerous senior diplomatic positions in Washington and abroad. From 2005 to 2007, she was Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for the Bureau of East Asian and Pacific Affairs. Among other positions, she was Deputy Assistant Secretary of State in the Bureau of European and Eurasian Affairs from 2003 to 2005.



Ambassador Stephens' earlier assignments in Asia include consular and public affairs officer in Guangzhou, China (1980-1982), chief of the internal political unit in Seoul (1984-1987), and principal officer of the U.S. Consulate in Busan, Korea (1987-1989).