Dr. István SZERDAHELYI is a Hungarian diplomat, scholar, and specialist in Asian affairs, currently serving as Ambassador of Hungary to the Republic of Korea since 2022. He has extensive diplomatic experience in the Asia-Pacific region, having previously served as Ambassador to Brunei Darussalam, Ambassador to Singapore, and Ambassador to Japan on two separate occasions. He also held senior responsibilities at Hungary’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade, including Director General of the Asia-Pacific Department and ASEM Senior Officer of Hungary. In addition to his diplomatic career, Dr. SZERDAHELYI has a strong academic background, having served as Associate Professor and Head of the Department of Japanese Studies at Eötvös Loránd University, as well as Assistant Professor in modern world history. He holds a Ph.D. in International Relations and Political Sciences from Eötvös Loránd University, an M.A. in Modern Asian History and International Relations from Kobe University, and an M.A. in History, Spanish Language and Literature from Eötvös Loránd University. His honors include Japan’s Order of the Rising Sun, Gold and Silver Star.