ASEAN-Korea Centre Secretary-General Kim Jae-shin

The ASEAN-Korea Centre said Tuesday it appointed former Korean Ambassador to the Philippines Kim Jae-shin as its new secretary general.

Kim is a career diplomat, leading the Korean mission in the Philippines from 2015 to 2017, after serving as the ambassador to Germany from 2012 to 2015. He was the deputy foreign minister and a presidential secretary for foreign affairs during the 2008-2013 Lee Myung-bak administration.

He is a graduate of Korea University who majored in political science and international relations.

The ASEAN-Korea Centre was established in 2009 to increase trade, accelerate investment, invigorate tourism and enrich cultural and people-to-people exchange between ASEAN and Korea. The member states include Korea and the 10 ASEAN countries: Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam.

Kim's appointment came as the center celebrates its 15th anniversary, while Korea and ASEAN are set to upgrade their relations to mark the 35th anniversary of their dialogue relations this year.

The center said that Kim's rich diplomatic experience and expertise in ASEAN affairs will play a significant role in the country's efforts to elevate Korea-ASEAN relations to the level of a comprehensive strategic partnership during a Korea-ASEAN summit in October. A comprehensive strategic partnership is one of the highest diplomatic relations that Korea forms with other countries.