Lee Joon-gyu

Chairman

Ambassador Lee Joon-gyu is the Chairman at the Asan Institute for Policy Studies. Amb. Lee had served for almost 40 years as a career diplomat. Previously, he served as the Korean Ambassador to Japan from July 2016 to October 2017 during which he successfully managed the bilateral relationship between Korea and Japan. He was also the Ambassador to India from 2012 to 2015 and to New Zealand from 2006 to 2009. From 2010 to 2012, he was the Chancellor of the Institute of Foreign Affairs and National Security(IFANS) which is the training and research arm of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs(MOFA), Republic of Korea. While serving as Consul-General in the Embassy at Beijing, China from 2001 to 2004, he successfully handled North Korean refugees matters. He was also the Ambassador for Overseas Koreans and Consular Affairs, MOFA. Currently, Amb. Lee is also the Chairman of the Korean Council on Foreign Relations. He also holds the President of the India Forum in Korea and a Vice President of the Korea-Japan Friendship Association. Amb. Lee received his B.A. and M.A. in Law from Seoul National University in 1976 and 1978 respectively. He passed the High Diplomatic Service Examination and joined the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in 1978. For his life-long dedication to public service, he received the Order of National Service Merit in 2003.