Julie J. Chung

Julie Chung
United States Ambassador to Sri Lanka and the Maldives
In office
February 25, 2022 – January 16, 2026
PresidentJoe Biden
Donald Trump
Preceded byAlaina B. Teplitz
Succeeded byJayne Howell, chargé d'affaires a.i.
Assistant Secretary of State for Western Hemisphere Affairs
Acting
In office
January 20, 2021 – August 3, 2021
PresidentJoe Biden
Preceded byMichael Kozak
Succeeded byRicardo Zúñiga
Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary, Bureau of Western Hemisphere Affairs
In office
November 2018[1] – January 20, 2021
PresidentDonald Trump
Preceded byKenneth H. Merten
Succeeded byHugo Rodriguez
Deputy Chief of Mission, United States Embassy Phnom Penh
In office
2014–2017
PresidentBarack Obama
Preceded byJeff Daigle
Succeeded byMichael Newbill
Personal details
BornChung Ji-yoon
1973 (age 52–53)[2]
Seoul, South Korea
NationalityAmerican
EducationUniversity of California, San Diego (BA)
Columbia University (MA)
Korean name
Hangul
정지윤
Hanja
鄭智允
[3]
RRJeong Jiyun
MRChŏng Chiyun

Julie Jiyoon Chung (Korean: 줄리 정, birth 1973[2]), birth name as Chung Ji-yoon (Korean: 정지윤; Hanja: 鄭智允),[4][5][3] is a Korean-American diplomat who served as the United States Ambassador to Sri Lanka from February 25, 2022 to January 16, 2026. She previously served as Acting Assistant Secretary and Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary for the United States Department of State's Bureau of Western Hemisphere Affairs (WHA).[1] Her first overseas assignment was in Guangzhou, China. Chung has later served in several posts in Japan, Vietnam, Thailand, Cambodia, Colombia and Iraq.[1]

Early life and education

Born in Seoul, South Korea,[6][7] Chung immigrated to California with her family in 1977 at the age of 5.

She received a Bachelor of Arts in political science from the University of California, San Diego and a Master of Arts in international affairs from Columbia University.[1]

Career

Chung joins Secretary Blinken's virtual roundtable with Foreign Ministers of the Caribbean Community (CARICOM), from the US Department of State in Washington, D.C., on April 21, 2021.

After joining the Foreign Service in 1996, Chung's first overseas post was as a consular officer at the United States Consulate General Guangzhou, China. At the United States Embassy Tokyo, Japan, she worked as the bilateral trade officer for the civil aviation and automobile sectors. While posted to the Office of Korean Affairs, Bureau of East Asian and Pacific Affairs (EAP/K), she traveled frequently to Pyongyang, North Korea, representing the US working-level group for the Korean Peninsula Energy Development Organization (KEDO).[8] In April 2003, she served as Special Assistant for EAP to Richard Armitage, Deputy Secretary of State. At the Embassy Hanoi, Vietnam, she acted as an Assistant Public Affairs Officer,[9] and later as a coordinator for the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC).[8] During her tenure as Deputy Political Counselor at the Embassy Bogota, Colombia, she managed the US government's largest extradition program, as well as the United States representative to the Group of 24 (G-24). In Baghdad, Iraq, she served as Chief of Staff coordinating civilian-military foreign assistance with 13 agencies and sections.[1]

In August 2014, Chung was assigned to be the Deputy Chief of Mission (DCM) for the Embassy Phnom Penh.[8] In August 2017, she was transferred back to the US to serve as the Director for the Office of Japanese Affairs (EAP/J).[10] and served as Acting Deputy Assistant Secretary from February–September 2018. From November 2018 to January 2021 she served as the Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary in the Bureau of Western Hemisphere Affairs.[1]

Ambassador to Sri Lanka

On June 15, 2021, President Joe Biden nominated Chung to serve as United States Ambassador to Sri Lanka.[11] Hearings on her nomination were held before the Senate Foreign Relations Committee on October 20, 2021. The committee reported her nomination favorably on November 3, 2021. The United States Senate confirmed Chung on December 18, 2021, by voice vote.[12] On February 25, 2022, she presented her credentials to President Gotabaya Rajapaksa of Sri Lanka.[13]

US Ambassador Julie Chung has been accused by Sri Lankan parliamentarian, former minister Mr. Wimal Weerawansa of being involved in a conspiracy to overthrow former President Gotabaya Rajapaksa and his government. These allegations were made in Mr. Weerawansa's book, "Navaya: Sengawunu Kathawa" (Nine: The Hidden Story), and were also referenced during his speech at the book's launch on April 25, 2023.[14] These allegations have been widely dismissed as misinformation attacks, with allegations that the Chinese government funded Weerawansa's book.[15]

On August 31, 2023, the Federation of National Organizations (Sri Lanka based Political Organization) delivered a letter to Sri Lanka's Minister of Foreign Affairs Hon. Ali Sabry, urging decisive measures to be taken against the US Ambassador Julie Chung to Sri Lanka due to violations of diplomatic protocols. The Sri Lankan Ministry of Foreign Affairs dismissed this letter.[16][17]

In October 2023, the Sri Lankan Parliament's Sectoral Oversight Committee on National Security recommended informing US Ambassador Julie Chung to avoid commenting on Sri Lanka's internal affairs. This advice was prompted by the ambassador's remarks following the events of May 9, 2022. The Committee's Chairman, Retired Rear Admiral Sarath Weerasekera, expressed concern in a letter to the State Defense Minister, questioning the legitimacy of statements about peaceful protests. Weerasekera accused the ambassador of conveying a negative image of Sri Lanka globally and accused her of endorsing acts of sabotage against the government. Citing the Vienna Treaty, he emphasized that ambassadors should not interfere in another country's internal affairs, urging Chung to refrain from such statements in the future. The parliament dismissed these allegations.[18]

On February 13, 2025, the Coalition Against Partition of Sri Lanka (CAPSL) organized a demonstration front of the US Embassy, Colombo, protesting against US Ambassador Julie Chung and accusing her of breaching diplomatic norms. The demonstrators further claimed that USAID funds were being misused to erode Sri Lanka's sovereignty and foster divisions within its communities. They urged US officials to recall Chung from her position.[19]

In January 2026 Chung was recalled by the United States Department of State.[20][21][22] She concluded here tenure and left Sri Lanka on February 16, 2026.[23][24]

Personal life

Chung's father, Jay H. Chung (Korean: 정재훈; Hanja: 鄭載勳) is a space scientist. Her sister, Connie (Korean: 정윤경) served as a producer at a broadcast station in San Francisco.[4][7][5] Chung speaks Korean, Japanese, Khmer, and Spanish.[1] She has also learned Cantonese, Vietnamese,[9] and Thai.[8]

References

  1. ^ a b c d e f g "Julie J. Chung: Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary, Bureau of Western Hemisphere Affairs". U.S. Department of State. Retrieved November 26, 2020.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: deprecated archival service (link)
  2. ^ a b "줄리지윤정, CHUNG JIYOON JULIE". Chosun Ilbo. Retrieved April 8, 2022.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: deprecated archival service (link)
  3. ^ a b 鄭藍 (Lan Cheng) (1996). "第四章 抄家後來訪者". 馨香的事奉-林獻羔見證 [A Fragrant Devotion: A firm conviction of Samuel Lamb in God]. 天道書樓. ISBN 978-962-208-190-1. 8月7日，美領事吳錫麟與夫人、副領事鄭智允來訪。 [Visit by U.S. consul Melvin T.L. Ang and vice consul Julie Jiyoon Chung on August 7.]
  4. ^ a b 백승재 (January 5, 2004). "〔사람들〕 화성 탐사선 핵심 기술은 '메이드 인 코리아'" [Core Technology of the Space Probe for Mars is 'Made in Korea']. Chosun Ilbo. Retrieved November 26, 2020.{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: deprecated archival service (link)
  5. ^ a b 이명조 (January 11, 2004). "<연합초대석> 재미 우주과학자 정재훈 박사" [Dr. Jay H. Chung, an interesting Space Scientist]. Yonhap News Agency (YNA). Retrieved November 26, 2020.{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: deprecated archival service (link)
  6. ^ "Remarks by Deputy Chief of Mission Julie Chung at the Harpswell Foundation Leadership Seminar". U.S. Embassy in Cambodia. March 1, 2015. Retrieved November 26, 2020.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: deprecated archival service (link)
  7. ^ a b "The Making of a Real American Diplomat". American Foreign Service Association (AFSA). Retrieved November 26, 2020.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: deprecated archival service (link)
  8. ^ a b c d "Deputy Chief of Mission Julie Chung". U.S. Embassy in Cambodia. Retrieved November 26, 2020.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: deprecated archival service (link)
  9. ^ a b "Asian/Pacific American Heritage Month: Julie Chung". Bureau of Public Affairs. May 3, 2005. Retrieved November 26, 2020.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: deprecated archival service (link)
  10. ^ "日本部長にチャン氏起用へ／米国務省" [Chung is Appointed to be Office Director for Japan/ U.S. Department of State]. Shikoku News. May 4, 2017. Retrieved November 26, 2020.{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: deprecated archival service (link)
  11. ^ "President Biden Announces His Intent to Nominate Nine More Individuals to Serve as Ambassadors". The White House. June 15, 2021. Retrieved June 15, 2021.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: deprecated archival service (link)
  12. ^ "PN897 – Nomination of Julie Chung for Department of State, 117th Congress (2021–2022)". www.congress.gov. December 18, 2021. Retrieved August 30, 2022.
  13. ^ "U.S. Ambassador Chung Presents Credentials to President Rajapaksa". U.S. Embassy in Sri Lanka. February 25, 2022. Retrieved March 2, 2022.
  14. ^ "Wimal and US envoy trade barbs over conspiracy allegations".
  15. ^ "Wimal under fire". May 7, 2023.
  16. ^ "Letter against US Ambassador handed over to FM".
  17. ^ "Sabry urged to rein in foreign envoys interfering in domestic affairs". September 2023.
  18. ^ "Refrain from commenting on SL's internal affairs".
  19. ^ "Recall Julie Chung..." February 14, 2025.
  20. ^ Lee, Matthew (December 21, 2025). "Trump removes nearly 30 career diplomats from ambassadorial positions". AP News. Archived from the original on January 2, 2026. Retrieved January 7, 2026.
  21. ^ "US Ambassador Julie Chung to depart Sri Lanka after four-year tenure". Ada Derana. January 7, 2026. Archived from the original on January 7, 2026. Retrieved January 7, 2026.
  22. ^ "U.S. Ambassador Julie Chung to Depart Sri Lanka". U.S. Embassy in Sri Lanka. January 7, 2026. Archived from the original on January 9, 2026. Retrieved January 16, 2026.
  23. ^ ""There's something truly magical about Sri Lanka" – Julie Chung in farewell message". Ada Derana. January 16, 2026. Archived from the original on January 17, 2026. Retrieved January 16, 2026.
  24. ^ "U.S. Embassy announces interim leadership in Sri Lanka as Ambassador Chung departs". The Morning. January 16, 2026. Archived from the original on January 17, 2026. Retrieved January 16, 2026.
allikas: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Julie_J._Chung