Wi Sung-lac

Wi was born on September 14, 1954 in Jangheung, South Korea. He gained a bachelor's and master's degrees in diplomacy from Seoul National University. Wi also obtained a Ph.D. from the Institute of World Economy and International Relations in the Russian Academy of Sciences.^[1]

After passing the Foreign Service Exam in 1979, Wi was the First Secretary at the Permanent Mission to Geneva from 1991 to 1993 and First Secretary at the Embassy of Korea in Russia from 1993 to 1996. From 1996 to 1997, Wi was the Director of the Eastern European Affairs Division at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. From 1999 to 2002, Wi was the Counsellor at the Embassy of Korea in the United States and the Special Advisor to the Minister of Foreign Affairs from 2002 to 2003.^[1]

From 2003 to 2004, Wi was the Director-General for North American Affairs at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade. In 2004, Wi was the Director for Policy Coordination at the Policy Coordination Office of the National Security Council. In 2009, Wi became the Chief Negotiator for Korean Peninsula Peace and Security Affairs at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.^[1] In 2026, Wi became the chairman of the Democratic Party of Korea's Northeast Asia special committee.^[2]

From 2011 to 2015, Wi was the ambassador to Russia. Wi was elected to the National Assembly in 2024.^[3] During his time in the National Assembly, Wi was a member of the Foreign Affairs and Unification Committee and the Intelligence Committee. Wi became the Director of National Security and Standing Chairman of the National Security Council in June 2025.^[1]