KIM Jongyong studied Arabic at Hankuk University of Foreign Studies. In 1984 I Joined the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and served in Egypt, Bahrain, Canada, and Morocco. From 2000 to 2001 I served as director for planning and administration at KOICA (Korea International Cooperation Agency). From 2004 to 2005 I served as consul general at the Korean Embassy in the U.K. From 2006 to June 2009 I served as ambassador to the State of Qatar from Oct. 2009 to Sep. 2010 I served as ambassador at Large for energy and natural resources at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. From Oct. 2010 to June 2013, I served as ambassador to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, while serving in Qatar, I was decorated with the Medal of Civil Merit in recognition of my efforts to the election of H.E. Ban Ki-moon as UN secretary-general. After retiring from foreign service, from Sep. 2013 to Feb. 2014 while lecturing at Gachun University as a visiting professor, I served as an advisor at KAERI (Korea Atomic Energy Research Institute) and worked at Samsung Corporation as a senior advisor. From Apr. 2014 to June 2016, I worked at Samsung Electronics as a senior executive advisor. From Feb. 2017 to Feb. 2018 I served at KEPCO (Korea Electric Power Corporation) as advisor. From Mar. 2017 to Mar. 2021 worked at Lotte Chilsung Beverage Co. as a non-standing director and chairman of the auditing committee ( Mar. 2019 - Mar.2021)