Kim Young-ho, First Day Keywords 'Principle'... "Role of Ministry of Unification Must Change"

Unification Minister Nominee Briefs on First Day
"Need to Change Unification Ministry's Role Focused on Dialogue"
"Serious North Korean Human Rights Issues...Principled North Korea Policy"

Kim Young-ho, the nominee for Minister of Unification, stated on the 30th that "change is necessary" regarding the core tasks of the Ministry of Unification, which has focused on inter-Korean dialogue.

On the morning of the 30th, as Kim arrived at his office set up within the Inter-Korean Dialogue Headquarters in Jongno-gu, Seoul, for his first day, he responded to reporters' questions asking, "Is a change needed in the Ministry of Unification's main task of inter-Korean dialogue?"

The keyword for Kim's first day at work was 'principle.' This is interpreted as his intention to shift the Ministry of Unification's focus, which had been centered on exchange and cooperation, toward pressure on North Korea based on principles such as North Korean human rights.

He particularly recalled President Yoon Suk-yeol's speech to the U.S. Congress last April, saying, "The Ministry of Unification will create a principled relationship with North Korea going forward." Earlier, President Yoon had outlined three visions of freedom, peace, and prosperity in that speech, identifying North Korea as a force threatening liberal democracy.

Professor Kim Young-ho, a candidate for the new Minister of Unification and a professor in the Department of Political Science and International Relations at Sungshin Women's University, is answering questions from reporters as he arrives at the Seoul Nam-Buk Summit Headquarters in Jongno-gu, Seoul, where the hearing preparation office has been set up, on the morning of the 30th. [Image source=Yonhap News]

Regarding the need for consistent unification policy, Kim said, "Continuity of policy is important," but added, "In changed circumstances, it is important to selectively consider agreements between the two Koreas." On the suspension of the effectiveness of the September 19 inter-Korean military agreement, he said, "When I was a scholar, I understood that the government confirmed North Korea violated the agreement," and added, "If North Korea engages in high-intensity provocations in the future, the government will need to organize its stance on the September 19 military agreement in its own way."

He repeatedly emphasized the issue of 'North Korean human rights.' Kim stated, "The human rights situation of North Korean residents is actually very serious," and stressed, "From a scholar's perspective, the issue of North Korean human rights has attracted significant attention from the international community, and as the party responsible, the Ministry of Unification needs to take an interest in the difficulties of North Korean residents and work to resolve the problem." He added, "Since the Yoon Suk-yeol administration aims for 'global standards,' human rights issues will also be approached as universal values."

Regarding his past statement that "the Kim Jong-un regime should be overthrown and unification under one system should be achieved," he replied, "Scholars consider various unification scenarios such as one system two states or two states one system, pondering which is necessary for the future of the Republic of Korea." He continued, "It is important to keep future situations in mind and pursue policies when such situations arise," but drew a line by saying, "I think such efforts should be made by academia or society going forward."

Professor Kim Young-ho, a newly nominated candidate for the Minister of Unification and a professor in the Department of Political Science and International Relations at Sungshin Women's University, is answering questions from reporters as he arrives at the Inter-Korean Summit Headquarters in Jongno-gu, Seoul, where the hearing preparation office has been set up on the morning of the 30th.
[Image source=Yonhap News]

Earlier, President Yoon Suk-yeol nominated Kim Young-ho, a professor at Sungshin Women's University, as the Minister of Unification candidate, and Moon Seung-hyun, ambassador to Thailand, as the Deputy Minister candidate. This is the first time since the Ministry of Unification's establishment in 1998 that both the minister and deputy minister positions have been filled by external figures simultaneously. The general assessment of this appointment is that President Yoon has embarked on a 'structural reform' of the Ministry of Unification. It is interpreted as a plan to shift the Ministry's focus, which had been biased toward inter-Korean 'exchange and cooperation,' toward 'pressure on North Korea' through the new leadership.

The combination of Kim Young-ho, classified as a 'hardliner on North Korea,' and Moon Seung-hyun, regarded as a 'traditional diplomat,' is expected to play a leading role in coordinating international pressure on North Korea centered on human rights issues. This aligns with the Yoon Suk-yeol administration's consistent emphasis on 'peace through strength' and 'principled inter-Korean relations.' However, some critics argue that such appointments could undermine the Ministry of Unification's positive function of 'peaceful unification.'

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