[1] Although Chang Myon is officially recorded as the first ambassador serving from February 1949, Chough Pyung-ok was recognized in August 1948 as the Special Representative of the President of South Korea with a personal rank of Ambassador.

Chang replaced Chough in January 1949 in the same capacity, and was appointed as the first ambassador the following month.

[2] South Korea has so far sent twenty-four ambassadors to the United States, excluding 2 Chargé d'affaires a.i.

[3] Reflecting the United States' significance to South Korea's diplomacy, almost all of these ambassadors have been chosen from elites in their respective fields.

For instance, the four most recent ambassadors have all been either career diplomats who had served in the high levels of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (e.g., Ahn Ho-young, Choi Young-jin, and Lee Tae-sik), or in high government positions such as Prime Minister and head of the Finance Ministry (e.g., Han Duck-soo) before being appointed to Washington, D.C. A complete list of ambassadors is provided below in the order of appointment.