Diplomat and trade expert who served as the first Vice Minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade and Ambassador to the UN
| Life | 1939 |
| Era | 현대 |
| Clan | 보성 선씨 |
Seon Jun-yeong (born 1939) is a Korean diplomat introduced as a Boseong Seon, who graduated in law from Seoul National University and studied at the graduate school of American University in the United States. He is described as one of the Ministry's leading economic and trade specialists, widely known in international organizations such as the WTO.
His posts included director of Trade Division 2, minister at the embassy in Washington, director-general for international economy and trade, ambassador to the Czech Republic, Second Assistant Minister and ambassador to the Geneva mission. As Second Assistant Minister he wrapped up US trade issues such as the Korea-US auto trade friction, and as Geneva ambassador he is said to have chaired the UN disarmament conference, the WTO Council for Trade in Services and the UN human rights body.
Under the Kim Dae-jung government he served as the first Vice Minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade, then as ambassador to the UN and honorary president of the United Nations Association of Korea. Further biographical details such as family and birthplace were not confirmed.
Seon Jun-yeong held key trade posts and, as ambassador to the Geneva mission, handled work in international bodies such as the WTO and the UN disarmament conference. Wrapping up the Korea-US auto trade friction is introduced as a representative achievement.
When the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade was launched under the Kim Dae-jung government he became its first Vice Minister, and then served as ambassador to the UN. After retirement he became honorary president of the United Nations Association of Korea.