Presidential Office Responds to 'Kim Tae-hyo Dismissal' Demand: "Who Would It Help?"

Yoon Holds Weekly Meeting with Prime Minister, Urges Utilization of Four Major Rivers Weirs and Follow-up Measures for Wildfires

On the 17th, the Presidential Office virtually rejected the Democratic Party of Korea's demand for the dismissal of First Deputy Director Kim Tae-hyo, who was held responsible for the National Security Office eavesdropping allegations.

A key official from the Presidential Office met with reporters at the Yongsan Presidential Office in the afternoon and said, "Deputy Director Kim recently returned from a business trip to the United States and is preparing for the Korea-US summit on the diplomatic frontlines while managing various diplomatic schedules," adding, "If we ask the official currently negotiating to step down, I want to ask who this would actually help."

[Image source=Yonhap News]

Earlier, Democratic Party lawmakers from the National Defense Committee, Foreign Affairs and Unification Committee, Steering Committee, and Intelligence Committee held a press conference near the Yongsan Presidential Office and submitted a dismissal request for Deputy Director Kim to the Presidential Office's civil affairs office. Jin Seong-jun, the Democratic Party's senior deputy floor leader, criticized, "Our government must seriously protest to the United States to verify whether this is true, thoroughly investigate the circumstances to uncover the facts, and strictly demand that it never happens again," adding, "However, Deputy Director Kim has instead defended the United States."

However, the Presidential Office clearly expressed its rejection by referring to Deputy Director Kim as "the official preparing for the Korea-US summit on the diplomatic frontlines." Furthermore, they indicated that the eavesdropping controversy would not be raised as an agenda item for the summit. Instead, there is a possibility of pursuing a plan to include Japan in the Korea-US intelligence alliance, thereby advancing a strengthened Korea-US-Japan intelligence-sharing framework. Deputy Director Kim also responded to a question on his return trip about whether Japan might be included in the Korea-US intelligence alliance, saying, "There is a strong possibility, but I believe it can be reviewed step-by-step depending on the matter."

Meanwhile, President Yoon held a regular meeting with Prime Minister Han Duck-soo on the same day and urged measures for the utilization of the Four Major Rivers' weirs and follow-up actions for the Gangneung wildfire. President Yoon instructed, "In a situation where severe droughts and floods repeat due to the climate crisis, actively seek ways to utilize the Four Major Rivers' weirs through scientific and objective re-evaluation." After receiving a report on the wildfire damage, he reiterated, "Ensure thorough support for damage recovery so that affected residents can quickly return to their daily lives," and ordered, "Systematically prepare measures for the East Coast wildfires that recur every spring."

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