United States Ambassador to South Korea Mark Lippert will leave South Korea and return home on January 20, coinciding with President-elect Trump’s inauguration, he told local media in Seoul on Friday.

Lippert’s departure will coincide with the return of all politically appointed U.S. ambassadors worldwide, he said, a requirement the New York Times previously reported as being ordered by Trump transition team staff.

But while President-elect Trump has already appointed ambassadors to some countries, such as Israel and China, his transition team is yet to appoint one to Seoul.

“It seems odd to remove a significant group of ambassadors from stations worldwide, without