Ambassador Yunju Ko, prior to assuming this position, served as Director for FTA Goods division, Director-General for North American Affairs Bureau, Deputy Chief of Mission and Minister for Political Affairs at the Korean Embassy in Washington DC and also worked at Office of National Security as Deputy Secretary. His overseas postings include Washington D.C., Baghdad, and Xian. He received his B.A. and M.A. in Economics from Yonsei University, an M.A. in Law and Diplomacy from Tufts University and a Master of Laws from George Washington University. He received Order of Service Merit (Green Stripes) in 2013.