New US Ambassador to Seoul Taught English in Korea

Baek Won-kyu, an English teacher at Yesan Middle School, shows a photo of Kathleen Stephens, who was appointed as next U.S. ambassador to Seoul. As a Peace Corps volunteer, Stephens taught English to students and Baek was one of them.


Kathleen Stephens, who will likely serve as ambassador to Seoul, taught English at middle schools in Buyeo and Yesan, South Chungcheong Province, until 1977.

Last week, the White House appointed her to head the U.S. Embassy here. If confirmed by the U.S. Congress, she will replace Alexander Vershbow who has been in his post since 2005.

Stephens currently serves as political advisor for the Bureau of East Asian and Pacific Affairs at the State Department.

She is said to have a broad understanding of Korea's circumstances and culture and can speak Korean fluently. She is also fond of Korean cooking.

Stephens began to have a connection with Korea when she came to Korea as a Peace Corps volunteer in 1975.

With a deep affection for Korea, she has Korean name, Shim Eun-kyung.

Stephens, who was born in western Texas, served as principal officer at the U.S. Consulate in Busan between 1987 and 1989, and internal political unit chief at the U.S. Embassy in Seoul from 1984 to 1987.

She also served as director for European affairs at the National Security Council in 1994 and 1995 and, earlier in her career, worked at U.S. missions in China between 1980 and 1982.

Recent assignments include director of the officer of Ecology and Terrestrial Conservation at the State Department from 2001 to 2003, and deputy chief of mission at the U.S. Embassy in Lisbon, Portugal, between 1998 and 2001.

Stephens can also speak Serbo-Croatian and Chinese.