Press release

Change of Her Majesty’s Ambassador to the Republic of Korea: Colin James Crooks

Mr Colin James Crooks LVO has been appointed Her Majesty’s Ambassador to the Republic of Korea in succession to Mr Simon Smith CMG.

This was published under the 2019 to 2022 Johnson Conservative government

Mr Colin James Crooks LVO has been appointed Her Majesty’s Ambassador to the Republic of Korea in succession to Mr Simon Smith CMG, who will be retiring from the Diplomatic Service. Mr Crooks will take up his appointment during early 2022.

Curriculum vitae

Full name: Colin James Crooks

Dates Role
2018 to 2021 Pyongyang, Her Majesty’s Ambassador
2015 to 2018 Beijing, Minister Counsellor
2011 to 2015 EU Delegation Jakarta, Deputy Head of Mission, later Chargé d’Affaires (on loan to European External Action Service)
2009 to 2011 FCO, Deputy Head, South East Asia and Pacific Department
2008 FCO, Senior Policy Adviser on North Korea
2008 Pyongyang, Chargé d’Affaires
2008 On loan to Cabinet Office
2006 to 2008 FCO, Deputy Programme Director, Corporate Services
2002 to 2006 Washington, First Secretary
2000 to 2002 FCO, Principal Speechwriter to the Foreign Secretary
1999 to 2000 FCO, Head of Section, European Union Directorate
1998 to 1999 Seoul, First Secretary
1995 to 1998 Seoul, Second Secretary
1993 to 1995 Language Training (Korean)

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Updates to this page

Published 6 July 2021