By Diplomacy Journal Lee Kap-soo

U.S. Ambassador to South Korea Philip Goldberg, who was appointed to the post in 2022, will retire early next year.

According to multiple diplomatic sources on Nov. 27, Goldberg will leave Seoul next January after nearly 35 years as a diplomat.

Goldberg arrived in South Korea in July 2022, after the inauguration of Yoon Suk-yeol's government. His arrival came a year and a half after the departure of former Ambassador Harry Harris in January 2021.

Over the past two and a half years, Goldberg is credited with strengthening the U.S.-ROK alliance and enhancing South Korea, the U.S. and Japan trilateral cooperation.

In particular, he is said to have stably managed the entire alliance with a seasoned communication style of a “veteran” who holds the title of “Career Ambassador,” the highest rank granted by the US State Department.

A new U.S. ambassador to South Korea is expected to be decided in time for the start of Donald Trump's second administration. Until a successor is named, Deputy Ambassador Joy M. Sakurai will serve as acting ambassador.