By Kang Seung-woo
Following Unification Minister Kim Yeon-chul's resignation over worsened inter-Korean ties, Cheong Wa Dae is now searching for his replacement, with politicians coming to the fore.
Given that the current relations between South and North Korea are headed toward their lowest ebb under the Moon Jae-in administration, politicians are regarded as a better fit for the job than bureaucrats or scholars as they are believed to be able to make and push ahead with bold decisions in North Korea policy.
Under the current administration inaugurated in 2017, President Moon has had two unification ministers ― Cho Myoung-gyon and Kim. The former was a career bureaucrat and the latter was a professor of unification at Inje University.
Im Jong-seok, a former presidential chief of staff, is one of the most-discussed candidates thanks to his track record.
The 54-year-old led the government's preparation for three inter-Korean summits between Moon and North Korean leader Kim Jong-un, during which he had opportunities to meet the leader and his sister Kim Yo-jong, who is currently burnishing her credentials as the No. 2 in the regime.
Currently, Im heads the Foundation of Inter-Korea Cooperation, a private nonprofit organization, focusing on the reunification of the two Koreas. In his recent interview, Im urged the unification ministry to act aggressively to improve stalled inter-Korean relations without being extremely cautious about the U.S. government's response.
He has said he would like to focus on the unification issue from the private sector, a euphemistic expression of his unwillingness to take a public post. But if President Moon, plagued by the chilly inter-Korean ties, implores him to take on the role, there is still a possibility he may accept it.
Within the ruling Democratic Party of Korea (DPK), its former floor leader Rep. Lee In-young is seen as the right fit for the unification minister job.
The four-term lawmaker has worked on the National Assembly's Foreign Affairs and Unification Committee, while heading the DPK's committee dealing with inter-Korean relations and reunification, which makes him a strong candidate from the ruling party.
Rep. Sul Hoon, a fellow DPK lawmaker, is also mentioned.
The five-term lawmaker led the establishment of the Korean Council for Reconciliation and Cooperation (KCRC), the country's major pro-unification group, in 1998 and since 2013, he has co-headed the organization.
Sul has insisted that another inter-Korean summit be held to ease escalating tensions on the Korean Peninsula. In addition, while working for the Foreign Affairs and Unification Committee in July 2019, he met Pak Kum-hui, vice chairman of the North's Supreme People's Assembly, and proposed that the parliaments of the two sides meet for talks.
The DPK candidate pool also includes Rep. Song Young-gil, who is the Foreign Affairs and Unification Committee head of the 21st Assembly, and Rep. Woo Sang-ho, another former floor leader. Vice Unification Minister Suh Ho, now serving as acting minister, could be promoted as well.
As President Moon accepted the unification minister's resignation offer, Friday, Cheong Wa Dae is likely to scramble to begin its appointment process. In particular, there is no time for delay, as the North Korean regime has threatened to carry out military actions along the border.
Meanwhile, due to the collapse of inter-Korean ties, there are growing calls on Moon to reshuffle his diplomatic and national security team, including national security adviser Chung Eui-yong and National Intelligence Service Director Suh Hoon.
However, according to a senior ruling party official, there would be no additional shake-up for now besides the appointment of a new unification minister due to concerns over a possible personnel vacuum in the team amid growing threats from the North.
"As far as I know, Chung and Suh will not be replaced immediately," the official told Yonhap News Agency, Friday.
There have been criticisms from the beginning of the Moon administration over the lack of expertise regarding North Korea among key members of his diplomatic and national security team.
Following Unification Minister Kim Yeon-chul's resignation over worsened inter-Korean ties, Cheong Wa Dae is now searching for his replacement, with politicians coming to the fore.
Given that the current relations between South and North Korea are headed toward their lowest ebb under the Moon Jae-in administration, politicians are regarded as a better fit for the job than bureaucrats or scholars as they are believed to be able to make and push ahead with bold decisions in North Korea policy.
Under the current administration inaugurated in 2017, President Moon has had two unification ministers ― Cho Myoung-gyon and Kim. The former was a career bureaucrat and the latter was a professor of unification at Inje University.
 |
| Im Jong-seok / Korea Times file |
The 54-year-old led the government's preparation for three inter-Korean summits between Moon and North Korean leader Kim Jong-un, during which he had opportunities to meet the leader and his sister Kim Yo-jong, who is currently burnishing her credentials as the No. 2 in the regime.
Currently, Im heads the Foundation of Inter-Korea Cooperation, a private nonprofit organization, focusing on the reunification of the two Koreas. In his recent interview, Im urged the unification ministry to act aggressively to improve stalled inter-Korean relations without being extremely cautious about the U.S. government's response.
He has said he would like to focus on the unification issue from the private sector, a euphemistic expression of his unwillingness to take a public post. But if President Moon, plagued by the chilly inter-Korean ties, implores him to take on the role, there is still a possibility he may accept it.
Within the ruling Democratic Party of Korea (DPK), its former floor leader Rep. Lee In-young is seen as the right fit for the unification minister job.
The four-term lawmaker has worked on the National Assembly's Foreign Affairs and Unification Committee, while heading the DPK's committee dealing with inter-Korean relations and reunification, which makes him a strong candidate from the ruling party.
 |
| Rep. Lee In-young / Korea Times file |
Rep. Sul Hoon, a fellow DPK lawmaker, is also mentioned.
The five-term lawmaker led the establishment of the Korean Council for Reconciliation and Cooperation (KCRC), the country's major pro-unification group, in 1998 and since 2013, he has co-headed the organization.
Sul has insisted that another inter-Korean summit be held to ease escalating tensions on the Korean Peninsula. In addition, while working for the Foreign Affairs and Unification Committee in July 2019, he met Pak Kum-hui, vice chairman of the North's Supreme People's Assembly, and proposed that the parliaments of the two sides meet for talks.
The DPK candidate pool also includes Rep. Song Young-gil, who is the Foreign Affairs and Unification Committee head of the 21st Assembly, and Rep. Woo Sang-ho, another former floor leader. Vice Unification Minister Suh Ho, now serving as acting minister, could be promoted as well.
As President Moon accepted the unification minister's resignation offer, Friday, Cheong Wa Dae is likely to scramble to begin its appointment process. In particular, there is no time for delay, as the North Korean regime has threatened to carry out military actions along the border.
Meanwhile, due to the collapse of inter-Korean ties, there are growing calls on Moon to reshuffle his diplomatic and national security team, including national security adviser Chung Eui-yong and National Intelligence Service Director Suh Hoon.
However, according to a senior ruling party official, there would be no additional shake-up for now besides the appointment of a new unification minister due to concerns over a possible personnel vacuum in the team amid growing threats from the North.
"As far as I know, Chung and Suh will not be replaced immediately," the official told Yonhap News Agency, Friday.
There have been criticisms from the beginning of the Moon administration over the lack of expertise regarding North Korea among key members of his diplomatic and national security team.
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