Yuri Kim, the first Korean-American woman ambassador, ends her diplomatic career

Former U.S. Ambassador to Tirana from 2019 to 2023, Yuri Kim, has ended her diplomatic career. She announced this decision through an official ceremony marking her retirement from the U.S. Foreign Service. The ceremony was attended by her relatives, colleagues, as well as notable figures such as former U.S. Ambassador to Tirana Alexander Arvizu, the Ambassador of Albania to Washington Ervin Bushati, and journalist Ilva Tare.

During her last assignment, Yuri Kim served as Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for Europe and Eurasian Affairs at the U.S. Department of State. Her diplomatic mission in Albania marked an important period, during which she supported the growth of U.S. investments in the country and was a strong advocate for judicial reform.

Yuri Kim was born in South Korea and raised on the Pacific island of Guam. She completed her studies at the University of Pennsylvania in 1993 and later earned a master’s degree in philosophy from the University of Cambridge. In addition to English, Kim speaks Korean, Mandarin, Japanese, and Turkish.

She is recognized as the first Korean-American woman to represent the United States as an ambassador, as well as the first U.S. ambassador from Guam. Throughout her career, Kim served in various countries including Korea, Japan, China, Iraq, Turkey, and finally Albania, where she made a significant contribution to bilateral relations.

“KORÇA BOOM”