Overview
- The U.S. Embassy in Seoul announced on X that Joseph Yun will depart the post on Oct. 24 after roughly nine months as chargé d’affaires.
- Diplomatic sources say Deputy Assistant Secretary Kevin Kim is likely to step in as acting envoy, a role that would not require Senate confirmation.
- Observers describe the timing as unusual, falling just before the Oct. 31–Nov. 1 APEC summit that will bring President Trump and China’s Xi Jinping to South Korea.
- Reports cite competing, unconfirmed explanations for the change, including perceptions of Yun as a holdover and operational needs tied to trade and Korea policy.
- The ambassadorial post has been unfilled for months, reflecting broader gaps in U.S. representation in several major countries.