Acting US Ambassador Kevin Kim Leaves Seoul: Trump's Korea Team Takes Shape
Acting U.S. Ambassador Kevin Kim has left Seoul for a potential role in the Trump administration. His departure marks a significant shift in U.S.-Korea diplomatic staffing.
He's leaving Seoul just two months after arriving. Acting U.S. Ambassador Kevin Kim's sudden departure points to a major reshuffle in Washington as the Trump administration centralizes its Korea-related expertise.
Kevin Kim Acting US Ambassador South Korea Departure and the Diplomatic Vacuum
South Korea's foreign ministry confirmed on Wednesday, Jan. 7, that Kevin Kim has left his post as charge d'affaires. He'd been serving since October 2025. The departure leaves the top spot at the U.S. Embassy in Seoul vacant once again, with Deputy Chief of Mission Jim Heller stepping in as the interim lead.
The Allison Hooker Connection: A New Role in Washington?
Speculation is mounting that Kim will join the Trump administration in a high-level capacity. Diplomatic sources suggest he's been tapped as a senior adviser to Allison Hooker, the U.S. Under Secretary of State for Political Affairs. Both Kim and Hooker were key players in the denuclearization talks with North Korea during the first Trump term, signaling a return of veteran negotiators to the State Department.
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