Kevin Kim, a former acting U.S. ambassador to South Korea, has officially been sworn in as the U.S. ambassador to ASEAN.
The U.S. Mission to the Association of Southeast Asian Nations announced on June 6 that Kim took the oath of office before Secretary of State Marco Rubio.
Kim’s father, Won-yong Kim, a former professor at Ewha Womans University, attended the ceremony and held the Bible as his son was sworn in.
The U.S. ambassador to ASEAN is an ambassador extraordinary and plenipotentiary responsible for overseeing strategic cooperation between the United States and Southeast Asian nations in the Indo-Pacific region.
The position covers a broad range of U.S.-ASEAN diplomacy, including stronger security and economic partnerships and coordination on regional issues.
President Donald Trump nominated Kim for the post in March, and the Senate confirmed his nomination last month.
Kim was appointed acting U.S. ambassador to South Korea in October 2025 and served in Seoul for about two months before returning to the United States in January.
During his assignment in South Korea, he helped coordinate Trump’s visit to the country and a summit between the U.S. and South Korean leaders.
Kim is widely regarded as an expert on the Korean Peninsula and East Asian security.
During Trump’s first administration, he served as an aide to then-Deputy Secretary of State Stephen Biegun and worked on North Korea policy.
He later served as a national security adviser to Sen. Bill Hagerty, a close Trump ally, and as a professional staff member on the Senate Armed Services Committee.
