New US Ambassador to Sri Lanka Julie Chung has posted an introductory video to Sri Lankans.
“🇺🇸 & 🇱🇰 have a lot in common – from our #democratic values to our shared commitment to a safe & prosperous Indo-Pacific. As the new US Ambassador to 🇱🇰, I’d like to introduce myself. Check out this video to hear why I’m so excited to represent 🇺🇸 on this beautiful island.” She tweeted.
🇺🇸 & 🇱🇰 have a lot in common – from our #democratic values to our shared commitment to a safe & prosperous Indo-Pacific. As the new US Ambassador to 🇱🇰, I’d like to introduce myself. Check out this video to hear why I’m so excited to represent 🇺🇸 on this beautiful island. pic.twitter.com/dKbTa9uLv9
— Ambassador Julie Chung (@USAmbSL) February 18, 2022
In December last year, the US Senate approved the nomination of Chung to be the new US Ambassador of to Sri Lanka.
The former Acting Assistant Secretary of State for Western Hemisphere Affairs, 49-year-old Julie Jiyoon Chung’s nomination needed to be confirmed by the Senate before she could take up her the position in the island nation.
Fluent in Korean, Japanese, Spanish and Khmer, Seoul-born Chung was previously Director of the Office of Japanese Affairs at the State Department.
She has served as Deputy Chief of Mission at the US Embassy in Phnom Penh, Cambodia and Economic Counsellor at the US Embassy in Bangkok, Thailand.
Chung was also the Chief of Staff to the Transition Coordinator at the US Embassy in Baghdad, Iraq. She has also served at the US embassies in Colombia, Vietnam and Japan, and the US Consulate General in Guangzhou, China. She is a Pickering Fellow.
Chung earned her Bachelors of Arts degree from the University of California-San Diego and her Master degree from Columbia University’s School of International and Public Affairs.
She is a recipient of numerous awards, including the Secretary’s Distinguished Honour Award.
The former US ambassador to Sri Lanka and the Maldives, Alaina B. Teplitz served in her post from October 2018 until October 2021.