Dr Rachel Emma-Jane Fentem CMG has been appointed His Majesty's Ambassador to the Republic of Korea, the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office announced on 28 October 2026. She succeeds Colin James Crooks LVO, who will leave the Diplomatic Service. According to the announcement, Fentem will take up the appointment during March 2027.

Fentem has been in pre-posting training since 2025. Before that she served as Principal Private Secretary to the Foreign Secretary from 2022 to 2025, and as Deputy Principal Private Secretary from 2021 to 2022. Her earlier posts include Counsellor for European and Economic affairs in Berlin from 2018 to 2021 and Counsellor for Economic affairs in Tokyo from 2017 to 2018.

Her career also includes a stint as Director of Overseas Operations at the Department for International Trade in 2016 to 2017, Counsellor for Political and Media affairs in Tokyo from 2015 to 2016, and a programme management role at HM Treasury from 2012 to 2015. She worked in the Prime Minister's Office from 2010 to 2012 and held policy adviser positions at the Cabinet Office and the Department for Culture, Media and Sport, joining HM Government in 2008.