SEOUL, March 31 (UPI) -- South Korean President Park Guen-hye announced she has chosen Ahn Ho-young, a former vice foreign minister, as ambassador to the United States.
Ahn, 56, served as an ambassador to Belgium and the European Union before becoming vice foreign minister in 2012, Yonhap News Agency said. Ahn, who is replacing Choi Young-jin, is considered an expert in trade affairs, Yonhap reported.
Park also appointed former lawmaker Kwon Young-se to the China ambassadorship. Kwon, 54, lost his parliamentary seat in April 2012 and served as Park's senior campaign manager, Yonhap said.
Lee Byung-kee, the adviser for a ruling party's think tank, was chosen as the ambassador to Japan. Lee, 65, previously served in Geneva and Kenya, Yonhap said.
