New British ambassador plans blog on Korea

Martin Uden

Five years ago, Martin Uden, 52, published a memoir, “Times Past in Korea,” based on his experiences during his six-year stint here as a diplomat in the British Embassy.
It was “dynamic and stimulating,” Uden recalled about Korea, a country which also gave him a chance to meet his wife Fiona.
So it is no wonder that Uden calls it exciting to return to the country ―this time as a top diplomat.
Last Friday, Uden presented his credentials to President Roh Moo-hyun at a ceremony at the Blue House, marking the official start of Uden’s term as British ambassador to Korea. He replaces Warwick Morris.
“I am very much looking forward to the start of my third posting to the Republic of Korea,” Uden said last Thursday in a statement released by the British Embassy. “It is an exciting time to be returning to this dynamic and stimulating country. I look forward to renewing old friendships, forming new links and to taking forward work in strengthening the partnership between our two countries.”
Previously, Uden served in Seoul as second secretary in the political section from 1978 to 1981 and as political counsellor from 1994 to 1997.
According to the embassy release, Uden studied law at the University of London.
He passed the bar exam in 1977 and joined the Foreign and Commonwealth Office, the equivalent of Korea’s Foreign Ministry, in London that same year.
Apart from postings in Seoul, he has also served in the British Embassy in Bonn from 1986 to 1990, in the British High Commission in Ottawa from 1997 to 2001 and most recently as British Consul-General in San Francisco.
In London, he was responsible at different times for nuclear non-proliferation, and foreign diplomacy in Japan, Yugoslavia and Albania.
He also served in the U.K. Trade and Investment Headquarters as International Director of the inward investment operation.
Apart from his 2003 memoir, Uden plans to write more about Korea in a blog on the Embassy’s Web site ― www.uk.or.kr/blog ― within the next couple of weeks, the Embassy said.
According to the Embassy, Uden’s first encounter with reporters here is scheduled in March.

By Moon Gwang-lip Staff Reporter [joe@joongang.co.kr]