Julie Jiyoon Chung, a career member of the Senior Foreign Service, Class of Minister-Counselor, has been confirmed by the United States Senate as the Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the United States of America to the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka.
The Senate on Saturday approved the nomination of Julie Chung by a Voice Vote.
President Joe Biden announced his intent to nominate Julie Chung as Ambassador to represent the United States in Sri Lanka and the Maldives on 15 June 2021 and the nomination was received in the Senate and referred to the Committee on Foreign Relations on 19 July 2021.
Chung, who was serving as the Acting Assistant Secretary of the Bureau of Western Hemisphere Affairs at the US Department of State, will also serve concurrently as Ambassador to the Republic of Maldives.
Testifying before the Senate Committee on Foreign Relations on 21 October at her confirmation hearing, Chung said Sri Lanka offers many challenges and opportunities for the United States to grow its relationship with the island nation and the US needs to build constructive relationships with Sri Lanka.
She also empathised that US must also be strong partners in encouraging justice, accountability, and reconciliation so that all Sri Lankans can share in the benefits of peace, security, and prosperity.
Born in Seoul – South Korea, Chung earned a B.A. at the University of California – San Diego and an M.A. at Columbia University’s School of International and Public Affairs. She is the recipient of numerous awards, including the Secretary’s Distinguished Honour Award. Chung speaks Korean, Japanese, Spanish, and Khmer.
(FT)