Korea’s Sang Wook Ham Elected President of IAEA’s 68th General Conference

Ham has served as the ROK’s Permanent Representative to Vienna-based international organizations since 2022.

Sang Wook Ham, the Republic of Korea’s (ROK) Permanent Representative to International Organizations in Vienna, has been elected as the President of the International Atomic Energy Agency’s (IAEA) 68th General Conference. His election follows a distinguished diplomatic career spanning over three decades.

Ham has served as the ROK’s Permanent Representative to Vienna-based international organizations since 2022. His appointment as President of the General Conference comes after consultations among IAEA Member States. He succeeds Thailand’s Vilawan Mangklatanakul, who held the position last year.

Ham's extensive experience in diplomacy includes leadership roles within the Republic of Korea’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Since joining the Ministry in 1991, he has been posted to various countries, including Iraq, the United States, and Afghanistan. He also served at the Permanent Mission to the United Nations in New York, both as a junior diplomat and later as Ambassador and Deputy Permanent Representative.

A prominent figure in nuclear non-proliferation and multilateral diplomacy, Ham has held key positions such as Director-General for Non-proliferation and Nuclear Affairs and Deputy Minister for Multilateral and Global Affairs. His leadership extends to international platforms, where he chaired the Missile Technology Control Regime in 2016 and the International Trust Fund for Enhancing Human Security for 2023-24.

His contributions have earned him several accolades, including a Presidential Citation in 2012 and an Order of Service Merit with Red Stripes in 2015. In addition to his diplomatic duties in Vienna, Ham is also the Republic of Korea’s Ambassador to Austria and Slovenia.

Ham holds a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science from Seoul National University and a master’s degree in International Affairs from Columbia University, adding academic rigor to his extensive experience in global affairs.