Kang Kyung-hwa

Kang Kyung-wha is a South Korean diplomat and politician who was the first female Foreign Minister of South Korea under President Moon Jae-in from 2017 to 2021 as well as the first woman nominated for and appointed to the position. She is also the first South Korean woman to hold a high-level position in the United Nations. Previously, Kang was the first non-exam-taker to become a director-general at the ministry. She is the first South Korean foreign minister to join the official South Korean delegation for the inter-Korean summit as well as to visit Pyongyang. Kang served as the president and CEO of the Asia Society, until she stepped down in October 2025 to become the 29th ambassador of South Korea to the United States.