Luanda: Angola's Secretary of State for Administration, Finance, and Assets at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Osvaldo Varela, on Tuesday received the Letters of Credence from the designated Ambassador of South Korea, Byong-jo Kang, in Luanda.
According to Angola Press News Agency, during the presentation and receipt of this diplomatic document, the two officials discussed strengthening bilateral relations between Angola and South Korea. On this occasion, the two diplomats highlighted the importance of bolstering bilateral ties between Angola and the Republic of Korea, with a particular focus on deepening cooperation across various areas of mutual interest.
The conversation also covered issues regarding new bilateral agreements as well as topics on the multilateral agenda. Byong-jo Kang begins his first mission as Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary in Angola, following a diplomatic career spanning nearly three decades in the service of the Republic of Korea.
He holds a degree in Political Science and International Relations from Korea University in Seoul and a master's degree in International Relations from Columbia University in New York, United States. Throughout his professional career, he has held various prominent positions within the Korean Ministry of Foreign Affairs and at diplomatic missions abroad, having entered the diplomatic service in 1996.
His previous positions include First Secretary at the Permanent Mission of Korea to the United Nations, Counselor at the Embassy in Nigeria, Director of Foreign Press Relations at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade, Deputy Secretary for National Security Strategy at the Office of the President, and Director of the Korean Peninsula Peace Regime Division.
The diplomat also served on the Presidential Committee for Unification Preparation and headed the Arms Control Division at the Ministry of National Defense. His overseas assignments included serving as Minister-Counselor at the Embassy in Argentina and as Consul at the Consulate General in New York.
Prior to his appointment to Angola, Byong-jo Kang served as Deputy Director of the Secretariat for the 3rd Summit for Democracy and, since January 2025, attended the National Security Course at the Republic of Korea's National Defense University as part of his preparation for new diplomatic responsibilities.
