Press Releases 04~05

Ambassador Christopher R. Hill To Be Sworn in as Assistant Secretary of State for East Asian and Pacific Affairs

U.S. Ambassador to the Republic of Korea Christopher R. Hill will be formally sworn in as Assistant Secretary of State for East Asian and Pacific Affairs on Friday, April 8, 2005, at a ceremony at Habib House, the U.S. Ambassador's Residence in Seoul.

With this ceremony, Ambassador Hill will assume the title and responsibilities of Assistant Secretary of State and will relinquish his duties as U.S. Ambassador. Deputy Chief of ission Mark C. Minton will assume the position of Chargé d'Affaires ad interim, until a new U.S. Ambassador to the Republic of Korea is named by the President and confirmed by the U.S. Senate.

Assistant Secretary Hill will depart Korea for Washington, D.C. on Tuesday, April 12 and looks forward to future visits to Korea in his new capacity. Ambassador Hill's wife, Mrs. Patty Hill, and their two daughters will remain in Korea until the end of the school year to complete their studies.

A press pool has been created to cover Ambassador Hill’s swearing-in ceremony. Questions can be addressed to U.S. Embassy Public Affairs.