James Hoare has a PhD in Japanese history and was for 33 years a Research Analyst in the British Diplomatic Service. After postings to Seoul (1981-85) and Beijing (1988-91), he opened the British Embassy in Pyongyang in 2001. After retirement, he taught at the School of Oriental and African Studies (SOAS) University of London and has been a regular radio and TV commentator, mainly on Korea. He has published widely on aspects of East Asian politics and history. His most recent work is East Asia Observed: Selected Writings 1973-2021 (2023).

Susan Pares worked for a number of years in the British Foreign and Commonwealth Office and had several postings to East Asia, either singly or accompanying her husband, James Hoare. Her subsequent career was in research, editing and writing, in particular on East Asian subjects. This interest has given way in recent years to family history. She is a trustee of the Elizabeth Heyrick Society and of the Friends of the Women's Library at the London School of Economics.