Hong Soon-young, a retired diplomat who served as South Korea's foreign minister, unification minister and ambassador to five countries, died Wednesday at age 77, officials said.

Hong, who was the foreign minister from 1998-2000, was considered one of the best known diplomats in South Korea. He entered the foreign service in 1961 and served in various other posts, including ambassador to Pakistan, Malaysia, Russia, Germany and China.

Hong served as unification minister from 2001-2002. (Yonhap)