Hyun Hong-choo

Hyun Hong-choo came to diplomacy through law and public administration. He graduated from Seoul National University's law college and passed the bar examination in 1963, later earning a Columbia law degree. He worked as a prosecutor before becoming government legislation chief in 1988. His assignments as ambassador to the United Nations in 1990 and to the United States in 1991–1993 coincided with South Korea's efforts to broaden relations with communist states and secure UN membership. ¹

During the 1992 Los Angeles riots, Hyun sought federal assistance in Washington, then visited the damaged neighborhoods. In his later account, he described appealing to Mayor Tom Bradley and the police leadership for protection and support for Korean residents and businesses. ²

After leaving government in 1993, Hyun practiced law in international trade and investment. He subsequently advised the presidency on reunification and national security and became a chair professor at the Korea National Diplomatic Academy in 2013. He died in 2017. ¹