U.S. Ambassador to Korea Philip Goldberg / Yonhap

Philip Goldberg, the U.S. ambassador to Korea, will retire in January after nearly 35 years of diplomatic service.

Goldberg, who took up his post in Korea in July 2022 following the inauguration of the Yoon Suk Yeol administration, is expected to leave Seoul in January. His appointment came 18 months after the departure of his predecessor, Harry Harris, in January 2021 coinciding with the inauguration of President Joe Biden.

During his two-and-a-half-year tenure, Goldberg has been credited with strengthening the Korea-U.S. alliance and boosting trilateral cooperation among Korea, the United States and Japan. As a career diplomat, Goldberg has been praised for his experienced communication skills and his steady management of the Korea-U.S. alliance.

Prior to his appointment in Korea, he served as ambassador to Colombia, acting ambassador to Cuba and ambassador to the Philippines.

The appointment of a new U.S. ambassador to Korea is expected to align with the launch of the second Trump administration. Until a successor is named, Deputy Chief of Mission Joy M. Sakurai will serve as the acting ambassador.