Lee Jong-joo, Unification Ministry deputy spokeswoman (Yonhap News)

First senior female unification diplomat in Korean Embassy


A deputy spokeswoman in the South Korean government is to take charge of 
unification affairs at the Korean Embassy in the U.S.

Lee Jong-joo, 39, deputy spokeswoman of the Unification Ministry, will become the first female unification attach in the Korean Embassy in Washington D.C. She was selected for the senior post in an open contest for the position at the Foreign Ministry, outperforming two other candidates. She has received attention for being the first female spokesperson in the government and dealing with the media in a sophisticated manner.

She will receive an official letter of appointment in August.

The Ministry of Unification dispatches unification attaches to major overseas embassies such as Washington D.C., Tokyo and Beijing.

Lee explained the major role of the position is to establish common ground between Korea and the U.S. on the North Korean issues and the future of the Korean Peninsula. She vowed to contribute to help both the U.S. and Korea perceive the Korea related issues on the same ground and lead active discussions with U.S. experts.

Lee entered the Unification Ministry in 1998 and has dealt with many North Korean issues such as exchanges between North and South Korea, economic relationships, international cooperation, and North Korean aid.

She graduated from the school of public affairs at Seoul National University and earned a masters degree at the Harvard Kennedy School for policy studies and public administration and a Ph.D. in military and security studies at the University of North Korean Studies.

Lee has been known as the “academic government official” as she continues to study and work to strengthen her expertise.

By Lee Woo-young (wylee@heraldcorp.com)