Professor Kim Seong-han Appointed as First National Security Office Chief under Yoon Administration... 1st Deputy Kim Tae-hyo, 2nd Deputy Shin In-ho (Comprehensive)

Kim Seong-han "Now is the era of comprehensive security... Not only North Korea but also climate, energy, and supply chains are security issues"
Kim Yong-hyun, former Joint Chiefs of Staff Operations Director at the Ministry of National Defense, appointed as Chief of Security Service

President-elect Yoon Suk-yeol is meeting with Philippe Lefort, the French Ambassador to Korea, at the transition office in Tongui-dong, Jongno-gu, Seoul, on the 27th. Photo by Transition Team Press Corps

[Asia Economy Reporters Kim Hyemin, Geum Boryeong, Lee Gimin] Kim Seong-han, former 2nd Vice Minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade, has been appointed as the first Director of the National Security Office under the Yoon Seok-yeol administration.

Jang Je-won, Chief of Staff to the President-elect, held a press conference on the 1st at the Presidential Transition Committee office in Tongui-dong, Jongno-gu, Seoul, and announced, "The Director of the National Security Office is Professor Kim Seong-han of Korea University Graduate School of International Studies."

Jang described Kim Seong-han as "an authority in diplomacy and security who served as the 2nd Vice Minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade, possessing comprehensive capabilities not only in theory but also in policy formulation and execution," and explained, "He was judged to be the right person to serve as the control tower that actively responds to domestic and international security environments and protects the safety of the nation and its people."

Kim Tae-hyo, a professor at Sungkyunkwan University, was named the 1st Deputy Director of the National Security Office, and Shin In-ho, director of the KAIST Eulji Defense Research Institute, was appointed as the 2nd Deputy Director. Jang emphasized, "Professor Kim, who served as the President's Foreign Strategy Planning Officer, is a strategic expert in security who combines theory and practice," and added, "He is considered the right person to improve the deadlocked inter-Korean relations and lay the foundation for principled North Korea policies."

Regarding Director Shin, Jang said, "He served as the Crisis Management Secretary of the National Security Office," and "He has abundant practical experience. We expect him to present sophisticated policies to strengthen a flawless security posture and demonstrate crisis management capabilities."

Kim Seong-han expressed his thoughts on his appointment as Director of the National Security Office, emphasizing, "We currently live in an era of comprehensive security. While North Korea's military threat is mainly recognized as a threat, new issues such as cybersecurity, climate change, energy, preservation of advanced technology, and global supply chain problems are rapidly emerging as security issues that can directly threaten our lives."

Regarding the organizational changes in the National Security Office, he explained, "Originally, the Secretariat Chief of the National Security Council (NSC) was handled by a military security expert, but the system has been changed so that a foreign affairs and security expert serves as the 1st Deputy Director, who also acts as the NSC Secretariat Chief, to address security issues from a comprehensive security perspective." He added, "Under the 1st Deputy Director, there will be four secretaries: Security Strategy Secretary, Foreign Affairs Secretary, Unification Secretary, and Economic Security Secretary. Under the 2nd Deputy Director, there will be the Defense Secretary, Cybersecurity Secretary, Crisis Management Center Director, totaling six secretaries and one center director."

In response to criticism that President-elect Yoon's North Korea policy is a hardline stance, Kim Seong-han said, "I don't know by what standard it is called hardline, but wouldn't it be more appropriate to say it is a principled inter-Korean relationship?" He added, "Rather than unconditionally following North Korea, we will lead inter-Korean relations based on firm principles of denuclearization on equal footing and building peace and prosperity through denuclearization."

Kim Tae-hyo also added, "A public-private joint committee will be established. We plan to newly create three bodies: the Economic Security Task Force (TF), the Defense Innovation 4.0 Public-Private Joint Committee, and the National Cybersecurity Committee, so that senior experts, young experts, and existing bureaucrats can collaborate and work together with official secretaries."

Director Shin explained, "North Korea's nuclear and missile capabilities are advancing, and the security situation has become severe," adding, "I feel a heavy responsibility and will assist well so that we can firmly stand on a solid security posture."

Kim Yong-hyun, former Operations Headquarters Chief of the Joint Chiefs of Staff at the Ministry of National Defense, was appointed as the Chief of the Presidential Security Service. Jang said, "Former Chief Kim also served as the Commander of the Capital Defense Command and is highly capable in defending the capital and specific security zones, making him the most suitable person for the Security Service Chief." He added, "At this historic moment of returning the Blue House to the people for the first time in over 70 years and relocating the presidential office and residence, we expect him to present a new security paradigm."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.