LA Consul General Appointment Draws Pushback From Korean Americans

The Lee Jae-myung administration has begun a major reshuffle of diplomatic posts, putting the spotlight on who will be named the next Consul General in Los Angeles.

Concerns are rising in Southern California’s Korean American community that more political appointees—non-career officials appointed by the president—could take top posts. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA) said it will rotate directors who have served more than a year. At present, 24 ambassador posts and 17 consul general posts remain vacant due to retirements or expired terms.

Young-wan Kim, who became LA Consul General in March 2022, has already served beyond the usual three-year term and is expected to be replaced. Traditionally, Los Angeles, home to the largest Korean population overseas, has been assigned ambassador-level diplomats. Now, a political appointment is seen as possible.

Analysts say political appointees could make up as much as 30% of new placements. Consulates in Los Angeles, New York, Honolulu, and Atlanta are among those rumored to be filled this way.

Community leaders argue the LA Consul General must be a seasoned diplomat, especially with major issues looming: the consulate’s reconstruction, next year’s World Cup, and the Los Angeles Olympics.

Jeff Lee, secretary-general of the Korean American Federation of Los Angeles, said: “There are many big events coming to LA soon that require the active involvement of the Consul General. If someone is sent only to push Seoul’s agenda, that may be understandable. But if the person has no ties to our community, they cannot protect nationals or support key projects.”

Yong-tae Lee, head of the National Unification Advisory Council LA chapter, said: “Political appointees are often seen as parachute appointments. Even if they take the role, their lack of expertise limits their effectiveness. Unless the candidate comes from the Korean American community, a career diplomat is the right choice.”

Others point to the growing need for professionals since the Trump administration, when diplomacy with the U.S. became more complex. Jong-nam Lee of the Bright Society LA said: “The LA Consul General must build strong ties with federal and local officials to safeguard Korean American interests and the U.S.–Korea alliance. That requires a trained diplomat.”

Some community leaders who asked not to be named echoed those worries. One said a political appointee unfamiliar with diplomacy or the Korean American community would face communication problems and struggle to lead the consulate staff. Another recalled that past appointees often lacked expertise and worked mainly for personal recognition, not long-term strategy.

In the past decade, the LA Consulate has seen two such appointments: Jae-soo Kim under Lee Myung-bak and Kyung-jae Park under Moon Jae-in. Most recently, Ji-hoon Cha, a Judicial Research and Training Institute (JRTI) classmate of President Lee Jae-myung, was named ambassador to the United Nations, reigniting debate over political appointments.

BY HYOUNGJAE KIM [kim.ian@koreadaily.com]