Espen Frederik Larsen 

Ambassador-Designate of Norway to Korea

Ambassador Larsen has served abroad in the Norwegian Foreign Service as Embassy Secretary at the Royal Norwegian Embassies in Canberra and Copenhagen, and as Minister Counsellor at Norway’s Delegation to NATO

Within the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, he has held a number of senior leadership and advisory positions, including Head of the Asia Section and Head of the Personnel Section. He has also served as Special Adviser for North America and as Project Director for several major strategic initiatives, including the comprehensive review of the Norwegian Foreign Service, the implementation of the Ministry’s operational strategy, and the establishment of the Directorate for Export Control and Sanctions.

In addition, he has worked extensively on European affairs, with particular responsibility for Norway’s relations with the countries of Central Europe. For nine years, he served as Chief of Staff of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs’ Crisis Response Unit.

Larsen holds a degree in Business Administration and Economics from the Norwegian School of Economics (NHH), a Bachelor's degree in Comparative Politics from the University of Bergen, and a Master of Science degree in Politics of the World Economy from the London School of Economics and Political Science.

He completed officer training at the Norwegian Army Engineer Corps Officer Candidate School and fulfilled his compulsory military service with the Brigade in Northern Norway. He subsequently served with the Finnmark Land Defence and later gained practical industry experience through several years of offshore work on exploration platforms in the North Sea. Larsen is also a graduate of, and later the Ministry of Foreign Affairs´ Head Teacher for, the Norwegian Defence University College’s Senior Executive Course.