Kang Young-shin

The government of Honduras has reportedly appointed Kang Young-shin as ambassador to Korea. Kang (57) was born in Korea and moved to Honduras 33 years ago. A diplomatic source said, "The Honduran government sought agreement for Kang's appointment from the Korean government at the end of last month, and if there are no reasons to disqualify her, she will take up her post in April." Kang will be the first overseas Korean to return to her home country as the ambassador of a foreign country.

Kang in a telephone interview said President Porfirio Lobo Sosa called her personally and said, "I trust you. Please work hard for us." She added, "He seems to have considered the close relationship with Korea."

Kang became the first Korean immigrant to Honduras back in 1977 when her husband, Song Bong-kyung, who died in 2008, was hired to teach Taekwondo at the military academy there. In 1986, Song taught Taekwondo to President Lobo, who was a minister at the time, and they developed a lasting friendship.

Kang gained Honduran citizenship in 1987 and gave up her Korean nationality, since the government of Honduras did not recognize dual citizenship. She opened a Korean school in Honduras in 1994 to teach the children of Korean diplomats and expats and worked as a teacher for 16 years.

After Honduras permitted dual citizenship last year, Kang applied to have her Korean nationality restored. But Korea does not permit dual citizenship yet.