Kim Yong-shik


Kim Yong-shik was a Tongyeong, South Gyeongsang, Japanese Korea lawyer and diplomat.

Personal life

Kim's younger brother was Korean author Kim Yong-ik. He graduated from the Law College of Chuo University in Tokyo in 1937.

Career

He twice served as Foreign Minister of South Korea and also held the posts of National Unification Minister and Minister without Portfolio. Kim's diplomatic career began with posts as Consul in Hong Kong and Honolulu, and progressed with assignments as Minister of the South Korean embassies to Japan and France, and then Minister with the Korean mission in Geneva. He then became Ambassador to Great Britain, concurrently to the Scandinavian countries, to the Philippines, to the United Nations, concurrently Canada, and to the United States. He was also special assistant to the President of the Republic of Korea for Foreign Affairs.
Upon his retirement from the foreign service, Kim took the posts of President of the Republic of Korea National Red Cross, Chairman of the Committee for Promotion of Home Visits by Overseas Koreans, Chairman of the Committee for Commemoration of the 100th Anniversary of Korean US Relations.